Hernandez Belinda F, Peskin Melissa F, Markham Christine M, Burr Jean, Roberts Timothy, Tortolero Susan
Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
Department of Pediatrics, San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
J Prim Prev. 2015 Oct;36(5):351-9. doi: 10.1007/s10935-015-0399-y.
Although sexual behaviors have been extensively studied among youth in general, they have been relatively understudied among military-dependent youth (MDY). Furthermore, the impact of unique military stressors, such as parental deployment and multiple relocations, on the sexual behaviors of MDY has not been assessed. In this pilot study, we estimated the prevalence of sexual behaviors among MDY, and examined the association between these behaviors and parental deployment and multiple relocations. Between June and September 2011, we recruited youth (N = 208; aged 15-19 years) who attended a military treatment facility in the southern United States, to complete a short, paper-based survey. We computed prevalence estimates and conducted Chi-square analyses, as well as logistic regression analyses, while adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. More than half (53.7 %) of the youth reported being sexually experienced, and many of these youth reported engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Parental deployment and multiple relocations were significantly associated only with having had sex in the past 3 months. Although with most sexual behaviors there was no significant association between parental deployment and multiple relocations, many MDY are sexually experienced and engage in risky sexual behaviors. MDY should thus be exposed to evidence-based strategies for sexually transmitted infection and pregnancy prevention, as well as provided with teen-friendly health care services and comprehensive sexual/reproductive health counseling.
虽然性行为在普通青少年中已得到广泛研究，但在随军青少年（MDY）中相对较少受到关注。此外，诸如父母一方被派遣服役以及多次搬迁等独特的军事压力源对随军青少年性行为的影响尚未得到评估。在这项试点研究中，我们估算了随军青少年性行为的发生率，并研究了这些行为与父母一方被派遣服役以及多次搬迁之间的关联。2011年6月至9月期间，我们招募了在美国南部一家军事治疗机构就诊的青少年（N = 208；年龄在15 - 19岁之间），让他们完成一份简短的纸质调查问卷。我们计算了发生率估算值，并进行了卡方分析以及逻辑回归分析，同时对年龄、性别和种族/族裔进行了校正。超过半数（53.7%）的青少年报告有过性经历，而且其中许多青少年报告有过危险性行为。父母一方被派遣服役和多次搬迁仅与过去3个月内有过性行为存在显著关联。尽管在大多数性行为方面，父母一方被派遣服役和多次搬迁之间没有显著关联，但许多随军青少年有性经历且存在危险性行为。因此，应该让随军青少年接触到基于证据的性传播感染和妊娠预防策略，同时为他们提供适合青少年的医疗服务以及全面的性/生殖健康咨询。
