Open AccessExcessive alcohol use and its association with risky sexual behaviour: a cross‐sectional analysis of data from Victorian secondary school students
Author(s) -
Agius Paul,
Taft Angela,
Hemphill Sheryl,
Toumbourou John,
McMorris Barbara
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/1753-6405.12014
Subject(s) - binge drinking , demography , condom , logistic regression , medicine , cross sectional study , population , unsafe sex , injury prevention , poison control , psychology , environmental health , family medicine , syphilis , pathology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , sociology
Objective: Estimate the prevalence of sexual behaviour and alcohol use and examine the association between excessive alcohol use and risky sexual behaviour in late secondary students in Victoria, Australia.Method:The sample of Year 11 students from government and independent schools participating in the 2008 International Youth Development Study (n=450) was representative of the Victorian school population. Logistic regression analyses examined the associations between sexual behaviour, binge and compulsive drinking, adjusting for socio‐demographic, school and family factors.Results:Under half (44%) the students had experienced sex in the past year, half (50%) had engaged in binge drinking in the past two weeks and 26% reported compulsive drinking in the past year. Of those who reported sex in the past year (n=197), 34% had sex without a condom at the last sexual encounter and 28% later regretted sex due to alcohol. The likelihood of experiencing sex was increased by binge (OR=2.44, 95%CI 1.44–4.12) and compulsive drinking (OR=2.15, 95%CI 1.29–3.60). For those sexually active, binge drinking increased the risk of having three or more sexual partners (OR=3.37, 95%CI 1.11–10.26) and compulsive drinking increased the likelihood of regretted sex due to alcohol (OR=4.43, 95%CI 2.10–9.31). Excessive drinking was not associated with condom non‐use.Conclusion and implications:Risky sex – multiple sexual partners and regretted sex due to alcohol – and excessive drinking are highly prevalent and co‐associated among Victorian late secondary students.