Multiple violence victimisation associated with sexual ill health and sexual risk behaviours in Swedish youth

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To address the associations between emotional, physical and sexual violence, specifically multiple violence victimisation, and sexual ill health and sexual risk behaviours in youth, as well as possible gender differences. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based survey among sexually experienced youth using a questionnaire with validated questions on emotional, physical, and sexual violence victimisation, sociodemographics, health risk behaviours, and sexual ill health and sexual risk behaviours. Proportions, unadjusted/adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: The participants comprised 1192 female and 1021 male students aged 15 to 22 years. The females had experienced multiple violence (victimisation with two or three types of violence) more often than the males (21% vs. 16%). The associations between multiple violence victimisation and sexual ill health and sexual risk behaviours were consistent for both genders. Experience of/involvement in pregnancy yielded adjusted ORs of 2.4 (95% CI 1.5–3.7) for females and 2.1 (95% CI 1.3–3.4) for males, and early age at first intercourse 2.2 (95% CI 1.6–3.1) for females and 1.9 (95% CI 1.2–3.0) for males. No significantly raised adjusted ORs were found for non-use of contraceptives in young men or young women, or for chlamydia infection in young men. Conclusions: Several types of sexual ill health and sexual risk behaviours are strongly associated with multiple violence victimisation in both genders. This should be taken into consideration when counselling young people and addressing their sexual and reproductive health.

Abstract

摘要 目的 为了解瑞典青年情感的、身体的和性暴力之间的关联，尤其是多重暴力伤害与性疾病和性风险行为之间的联系及可能的性别差异。

方法 在有过性经历的青年男女之间进行横断面的以人口为基础的调查，调查使用经过验证的调查问卷，问卷涉及情感的、身体的和性的暴力伤害，社会人口学特征，健康风险行为及性疾病和性危险行为。计算百分比，未标化/标化的优势比（odds ratios ORs）及95%可信区间（confidence intervals CIs)

结果 参与调查者是年龄在15-22岁间的学生，包括1192名女生和1021名男生。女生比男生更常遭受多重暴力（两种或三种暴力伤害）(21%比16%)。多重暴力伤害和性疾病及性风险行为之间的关系无性别差异。经历过/参与过怀孕产生的标化后的ORs女生为2.4 (95% CI 1.5–3.7),男生为2.1(95% CI 1.3–3.4)，第一次性交低龄的优势比女生为2.2 (95% CI 1.6–3.1)，男生为1.9 (95% CI 1.2–3.0)，没有使用避孕措施的男青年或女青年调整后的ORs无明显提高，男青年衣原体感染也无明显提高。

结论 在两性关系中几种性疾病和性危险行为与多重暴力伤害密切相关。因此辅导年轻人和讲解性和生殖健康问题时这些应该被考虑到。

Keywords:

• Adolescents
• Sexual behaviours
• Sexual health
• Violence
• Youth

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Funding for this project was provided by the Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority, Sweden, and from the Department of Research and Development, Västernorrland County Council, Sweden.