International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 18, Number 6 > Pp. 396-401

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Original research articles

At greatest risk: pre- and early adolescent Bahamian youth experiencing anal intercourse

S Yu, L Deveaux, S Lunn, H Liu, N Brathwaite, X Li, L Cottrell, S Marshall and B Stanton

The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Office of AIDS, Bahamas Ministry of Health, Nassau, Bahamas; Office of AIDS, Bahamas Ministry of Health, Nassau, Bahamas; The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Office of AIDS, Bahamas Ministry of Health, Nassau, Bahamas; The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Pediatrics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

Although anal intercourse carries great risk for HIV transmission, little research has focused on it among the general population, particularly pre- and early adolescents. This study describes the prevalence of anal and vaginal intercourse among Bahamian pre- and early adolescents and associations with other risk behaviours, family interactions and intrapersonal correlates. Data were from 1274 sixth-grade students aged 9–14 years who completed self-administered questionnaires at baseline of a larger school-based behavioural intervention study. Youth who reported having had anal intercourse engaged in significantly higher rates of several risk behaviours and were significantly more likely to engage in risk behaviours over the next six months, compared with youth with a history of vaginal intercourse only, who in turn were more likely than virgin adolescents. Youth indulging in anal intercourse also perceived significantly lower levels of parental monitoring. Multivariate analyses revealed that anal intercourse, vaginal intercourse, reduced parental monitoring, depression and perceived friend high-risk involvement were associated with both past involvement and future intention to engage in other risk behaviours. Anal intercourse poses a direct threat to the health of these children and is a flag for a constellation of other risks.

Key Words: ANAL INTERCOURSE • PARENTAL MONITORING • DEPRESSION • RISK BEHAVIOURS • EARLY ADOLESCENTS

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