Where the boys are: Sexual expectations and behaviour among young women on holiday

The main objectives of this study were to examine relationships between vacation sex expectations and travelling companionship type (solo, paired, or group), and behavioural outcomes such as engaging in a relationship while on vacation, procuring condoms, and initiating condom use with vacation sex partners among tourist women in Costa Rica. A brief interview was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics, vacation sex expectations and relationships, casual sex variables, and alcohol use among a convenience sample of 128 single female tourists 18 years of age or older. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to examine relationships among variables of interest. Women who travelled solo or with a single female companion and women who anticipated having sex on holiday were more likely than other tourist women to report one or more vacation relationships, to have procured condoms, and to have initiated condom use with a vacation sex partner. Women who engage in unanticipated vacation relationships may be at increased risk of participating in unsafe sex with a partner met on holiday due to lack of condom procurement and/or initiation of condom use. The findings point to the importance of public health efforts to educate women regarding safer sex precautions when travelling on holiday.

Résumé

L’objectif principal de cette étude était d’étudier, chez les touristes de sexe féminin au Costa Rica, les relations entre les attentes sexuelles liées aux vacances et les types de voyages (en solo, à deux et en groupe), ainsi que les comportements résultant de ceux‐ci, tels que l’engagement de relations au cours des vacances, la façon de se procurer des préservatifs, et l’initiation de l’utilisation de préservatifs avec des partenaires sexuels rencontrés pendant les vacances. Un bref entretien a eu lieu pour évaluer les caractéristiques socio‐démographiques, les attentes sexuelles et les relations liées aux vacances, les caractéristiques des relations sexuelles occasionnelles, et la consommation d’alcool dans un échantillon de commodité de 128 touristes de sexe féminin et célibataires, âgées de 18 ans et plus. Une analyse variée et multivariée a été menée pour examiner les rapports entre les variables d’intérêt. Les femmes qui voyagent en solo ou en compagnie d’une autre femme, de même que celles qui anticipaient d’avoir des rapports sexuels pendant leurs vacances, étaient plus susceptibles que d’autres touristes de sexe féminin de déclarer avoir eu une ou plusieurs relations au cours de leurs vacances, de s’être procuré des préservatifs, et d’en avoir initié l’utilisation avec un partenaire rencontré pendant leurs vacances. Les femmes qui s’engagent dans des relations non anticipées durant leurs vacances peuvent s’exposer à un risque accru de rapports non protégés avec un partenaire rencontré dans cette période, parce qu’elles ne disposent pas de préservatifs et/ou qu’elles ne les proposent pas à leurs partenaires. Les résultats soulignent l’importance des efforts en santé publique visant à informer les femmes concernant le sexe sans risque pendant leurs vacances.

Resumen

El principal objetivo de este estudio fue examinar, por una parte, las relaciones entre las expectativas sexuales durante las vacaciones y el tipo de compañía cuando se viaja (solo, en pareja o en grupo), y, por otra, la conducta de mujeres turistas en Costa Rica, tales como tener una relación durante las vacaciones, comprar preservativos o empezar a usar preservativos con compañeros sexuales en vacaciones. Se llevaron a cabo entrevistas breves entre una muestra conveniente de 128 turistas solteras mayores de edad para analizar las características sociodemográficas, las expectativas y las relaciones sexuales durante las vacaciones, las variables de sexo casual y el consumo de alcohol. Utilizamos análisis univariantes y multivariantes para examinar las relaciones entre las variables de interés. Las mujeres que viajaban solas o con una amiga y las mujeres que anticipaban tener relaciones sexuales durante las vacaciones mostraron más probabilidad que otras turistas de tener una o más relaciones en las vacaciones, de haber adquirido preservativos y haber empezado a usar condones con un compañero sexual cuando estaban de vacaciones. Las mujeres que acabaron teniendo relaciones no anticipadas durante las vacaciones presentaban más riesgos de participar en relaciones sexuales no seguras con un compañero que conocieron de vacaciones debido a no haber comprado preservativos o no haber iniciado el uso de éstos. Los resultados señalan que es importante que los responsables de la salud pública se esfuercen por educar a las mujeres sobre qué precauciones tomar para tener relaciones sexuales seguras cuando se van de vacaciones.  

A General Review of Recent Reports on Homosexuality and Lesbianism

This review deals with the most recent reports on male homosexuality (H) and lesbianism (L). The reviewer checked the most recent 1000 articles in the Internet’s Medline to report the major new findings in H and L. First discussed is the presumed etiology or cause, including the “maternal immunization hypothesis” and the evidence for both genetic and environmental factors. Next the prevalence in various countries is reported. The related diseases include HIV+, syphilis and other venereal diseases. Factors like drug involvement, unprotected anal sex, casual partners are included, as is suicidal ideation, violence, child molestation and changes in sexual orientation over time. The goal of this review is to make available to all readers the most recent reports on H and L so that pre-existing problems and any new disorders that have arisen can be better understood and that attempts at their solution can be pursued.  

The Influence of Gender on Sex: A Study of Men's and Women's Self-Reported High-Risk Sex Behavior

An investigation is presented of the relationship between gender and five self-reported high-risk sex behaviors: ever having had casual sex, the lifetime number of vaginal sex partners, the lifetime number of anal sex partners, having had multiple vaginal sex partners over the short term, and having had multiple anal sex partners over the short term. The analysis was guided by a conceptual model that emphasized the constraints and opportunities for high-risk sex behavior that arise from an individual's structural position and cultural context. Gender differences in high-risk sex behaviors were predicted to be due to differences in men's and women's family roles, work roles, religious behaviors, and past sex experience. In addition, the effects of certain sociocultural factors on the high-risk sex behaviors were expected to be dependent on an individual's gender. The hypotheses were evaluated using national data from the United States on self-reported sex behaviors for men ages 20 to 39 years old and women ages 20 to 37 years old. Data analyses were conducted using ordinary least-squares regression and logistic regression. Findings provided mixed support for the predictions. Gender was not significantly related to short-term, self-reported high-risk sex behaviors once social and cultural factors were included in the statistical models. But it continued to predict lifetime behaviors. Several variables, including race, age, age at first sex, and marital status, had gender-specific effects on the self-reported high-risk sex behaviors. The study demonstrates how the effects of structural and cultural factors on sex behavior differ for men and women.  

Casual sex among Norwegian adolescents

The issue of casual sex and amount of sexual experience was studied using data from a representative sample of 2997 Norwegians, 17–19 years old. Data were collected by anonymous self-administered questionnaires, and the response rate was 62.8%. Results showed that among adolescents, experience of casual sex to a large extent was a function of the time the individual had been coitally active. The amount of sexual experience was poorly related to social background and strongly related to life-style factors such as smoking and drinking of alcohol. A small minority of adolescents was found to have a sexual behavior deviating from that of the majority, and thus containing elements of potentially high risk for contracting HIV or other STDs. This minority of adolescents had the identifying characteristic of low self-reported intimacy with their first coital partner.The study was financed by the Norwegian Directorate of Health.  

武汉市年轻男男性行为者偶遇性行为及相关因素分析

目的 了解年轻男男性行为人群（YMSM）偶遇性行为及相关危险行为状况，并分析影响偶遇性行为的因素，为降低该人群感染和传播艾滋病的风险提出针对性的措施。方法 2013年5－11月在武汉市通过互联网宣传、外展活动的组织以及艾滋病自愿咨询检测服务招募年龄≤25岁的YMSM参加匿名式问卷调查，招募403名YMSM，收集其人口学、性行为等相关信息，分析YMSM偶遇性行为的相关因素。结果 实际调查398名YMSM中，48.99%（195/398）报告最近6个月发生过偶遇性行为。与未报告偶遇性行为的YMSM比较，报告偶遇性行为的YMSM肛交、口交坚持使用安全套的比例均较低［34.29%（60/175）比49.08%（80/163）（χ²=7.61，P=0.01）、38.85%（61/157）比28.65%（49/171）（χ²=3.82，P=0.05）］。报告偶遇性行为的YMSM中，多性伴的比例高于未报告偶遇性行为的YMSM［76.80%（149/194）比33.15%（60/181）（χ²=77.36，P<0.01）］。多因素logistic回归分析显示，经常使用互联网、存在吸毒行为是YMSM发生偶遇性行为的影响因素（OR=4.89，95% CI：1.90～12.54；OR=2.72，95% CI：1.60～4.63）。结论 YMSM有过偶遇性行为者更容易发生无保护性行为和多性伴等高危行为，应加强互联网针对YMSM的行为干预。