RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 O34 Binge drinking, smoking and experience of intimate partner violence among women aged 16–44 years attending sexual health clinics
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP A12
OP A13
DO 10.1136/sextrans-2017-053232.34
VO 93
IS Suppl 1
A1 Edelman, Natalie
A1 Whetham, Jennifer
A1 Mercer, Catherine
A1 Cassell, Jackie
A1 Visser, Richard de
YR 2017
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/93/Suppl_1/A12.2.abstract
AB Introduction BASHH guidance includes assessment of smoking history, intimate partner violence and alcohol risk in Sexual Health (SH) clinics. As part of a study assessing psychosocial predictors of sexual risk among women of reproductive age, we investigated the prevalence of these issues and their associations with sexual risk.Methods A convenience sample of women aged 16–44 years attending a busy urban integrated Contraception and Sexual Health clinic was invited to complete a questionnaire about socio-demographic, sexual behaviour and psychosocial factors.Results Of n=532 eligible women 44.5% were aged 16–24 years. 42.1% of participants reported binge-drinking (6+ units on one occasion) on a weekly basis. 36.7% reported currently smoking cigarettes or roll-ups. Using an adapted HITS domestic violence (DV) measure, 16.1% were classified as currently or previously experiencing DV. None of these factors was associated with reported risk of unintended pregnancy in the last 6 months. Multiple partnerships in the last year was not associated with DV experience (p=0.187) but remained positively associated, after adjustment for age, with current weekly binge-drinking (adjusted odds ratio = 2.13) and with current smoking (AOR =1.87).Discussion Findings suggest that interventions for binge-drinking, cigarette smoking and DV may be warranted for a substantial minority of women attending SH clinics. In particular observed associations between binge-drinking, cigarette smoking and multiple partnerships may point towards broader lifestyle choices that could be addressed concomitantly in SH clinics to help reduce sexual risk behaviour.