The Relationship between Sexual Behavior and Contracting a STI

Research on sexually transmitted infections among teens and adults often focuses on the importance of condom use and environmental factors. Although most sexually active teens and adults have sex within dating relationships, we know little about how the characteristics of sexually transmitted infections are associated with sexual behaviors. This study examines the relationship between contracting a sexually transmitted infection and sexual behaviors by gender and race in the United Kingdom. I analyzed data from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles in 2000, which surveyed the British population ages 16- 44. Whether someone had contracted a sexual transmitted infection in their lifetime served as the dependent variable. Nested logistic regression models were estimated to examine the relationship between STI and sexual behaviors. Findings suggest that females are more likely to contract a sexually transmitted infection in their lifetime than males controlling for age, living in London, living with both parents, marital status, sexual orientation, and having ever had heterosexual anal sex.