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ABSTRACT
Background
The high-risk sexual behaviors of drug-using adolescents in Malaysia is an under-researched topic.
Methods
Eighty adolescents undergoing rehabilitation participated in this mixed-methods study.
Results
The sample was mostly males (70%), and the mean age was 18.2 years (SD = 1.40). More than three-fifths (63%) had used only methamphetamine and the mean duration of all drug use was 3.15 years. Sixty-nine percent reported previous sexual experience. High-risk sexual behaviors include having unprotected sex (11%), sex with more than one person (84%), and sex under the influence of drugs (94%). About 44% of the sample had intimate partners who use drugs. Most respondents (64%) were aware of the advantages of safe sex and were familiar with HIV transmission modes (74%). Results from multivariate logistic analysis indicate that females had significantly higher odds of engaging in unprotected sex and having intimate partners who use drugs, relative to males; males were, however, more likely to have sex under the influence of drugs. Responses from the interviews suggest that adolescents who use drugs engage in high-risk sexual behaviors primarily because drugs are used to enhance sex.
Conclusions
A comprehensive sex education program tailored for drug-using adolescents should be made an integral part of rehabilitation.
Acknowledgments
We also thank the National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) for their support.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).