Sexual experiences and condom use of heterosexual, low-income African American and Hispanic youth practicing relative monogamy, serial monogamy, and nonmonogamy.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

To describe (a) demographic characteristics, (b) sexual history, (c) perceived HIV susceptibility, and (d) current sexual behavior, condom use, and alcohol and marijuana use of heterosexual, low-income African American and Hispanic youth categorized as relatively monogamous (n = 577), serial monogamous (n = 171), or nonmonogamous (n = 278).

STUDY

DESIGN

Data were drawn from personal interviews with a probability sample of low-income youth, age 15 to 24 years, conducted in Detroit in 1991.

RESULTS

Many group differences were found. For example, relatively monogamous youth were most likely to be female and Hispanic and to have engaged in unprotected intercourse. Serial monogamous youth were younger and most likely to have used condoms at last intercourse. Nonmonogamous youth initiated intercourse earlier and were most likely to have experienced oral and anal intercourse and to have used alcohol and marijuana.

CONCLUSION

Risk reduction programs may need to be tailored differently to accommodate the needs of these three distinct subgroups of youth.