Coercive Forms of Sexual Risk and Associated Violence Perpetrated by Male Partners of Female Adolescents

While partner violence is associated with STD infection among female adolescents, “the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear,” the authors wrote. “Sexually coercive and deceptive behaviors of male partners that increase female STD risk may be factors in this relationship.”

The current study concerned 356 females ages 14-20 who attended adolescent health clinics in Greater Boston between April and December 2006. The subjects were assessed for physical and sexual violence perpetrated by male partners and for exposure to sexual risk factors. Adjusted logistic regression models were employed to study the associations between intimate partner violence and standard sexual risk behaviors (e.g., multiple partnerships) and coercive or deceptive sexual risk factors (e.g., coerced condom nonuse).

Intimate partner violence was reported by more than two-fifths of the sample. In adjusted analyses, young women reporting intimate partner violence were more likely than others to report standard sexual risk behaviors: multiple partners, anal sex, and unprotected anal sex (odds ratio, 1.7-2.2). These participants also were more likely to report coercive or deceptive sexual risk factors: partner infidelity, fear of asking that a condom be used, negative consequences of requesting condom use, and coerced nonuse of condoms (2.9-5.3).

“The high prevalence of intimate partner violence against young women attending adolescent clinics strongly indicates the need to target this population for abuse-related interventions,” the authors concluded. “This need is underlined by the observed association between partner violence and sexual risk involving coercion or deception by male partners. Clinic-based STD and pregnancy prevention efforts should include assessment of sexual risk factors that are beyond the control of young women, particularly for those experiencing abuse.”

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