Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

8-2023

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Epidemiology

First Committee Member

Maloney, Patrick

Second Committee Member

Lyden, Elizabeth

Third Committee Member

McClung, Alexis

Abstract

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and other (LGBTQIA+) community participate in higher sexual health risk behaviors that lead to outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies than their heterosexual peers. Youth and adolescent LGBTQIA+ populations also experience this increased sexual health risk which will increase the risk for negative health outcomes as adults. The 2019 Youth Behavioral Risk Survey dataset was used to assess the association between sexual orientation on specific sexual health risk behaviors such as total number of sexual partners, history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, and drinking and/or substance use before last sexual encounter. The results found that there was a significant association between sexual orientation and outcomes total sexual partners and HIV testing. The implications of this study inform positive sexual practice promotion, identify who is getting STI/HIV testing to inform healthcare professionals, and profile which adolescents are drinking and using drugs before last intercourse.

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