Naslov
Changes in sexually transmitted infections-related sexual risk-taking among young Croatian adults: a 2005-2021 three-wave population-based study

Autori
Landripet, Ivan ; Božičević, Ivana ; Baćak, Valerio ; Štulhofer, Aleksandar

Izvornik
Croatian medical journal (0353-9504) 28 (2023), 3; 186-197

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Sexuality ; sexually transmitted infections ; change in sexual risk-taking ; sexual and reproductive health ; condom use ; emerging adults

Sažetak
Aim To assess the prevalence and dynamics of risky sexual behaviors among Croatian emerging adults in the 2005-2021 period. Methods Three surveys were conducted on large-scale national samples of young adults aged 18-24 in 2005 (N=1092) and 18-25 in 2010 and 2021 (N=1005 and N=1210, respectively). The 2005 and 2010 studies were conducted by face-to-face interviews on stratified probabilistic samples. The 2021 study was conducted by computer-assisted web-interviewing on a quota-based random sample from the largest national online panel. Results Compared with 2005 and 2010, the age at coital debut increased for both genders in 2021 (by a median of one year, to 18 years, and by a mean of half a year, to 17.5 years, in men and to 17.9 in women). In the 2005-2021 period, condom use increased by about 15% both at first intercourse (to 80%) and in consistent use (to 40% in women and 50% in men). When we controlled for basic socio-demographics, Cox and logistic regressions indicated that, for both genders, in 2005 and 2010 compared with 2021, the risks/odds were significantly higher for reporting earlier sexual debut (adjusted hazard ratio=1.25-1.37), multiple sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.62-3.31), and concurrent relationships (AOR=3.36-4.64), while the odds were lower for condom use at first sexual intercourse (AOR=0.24-0.46) and consistently (AOR=0.51-0.64). Conclusion Risky sexual behaviors decreased in the 2021 survey compared with the previous two waves, in both genders. Nonetheless, sexual risk-taking is still frequent among young Croatian adults. Introduction of sexuality education and other national-level public health interventions to reduce sexual risk-taking thus remains a public health imperative.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita, Sociologija

POVEZANOST RADA