Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in Vietnam

Youths and adolescents are vulnerable to HIV/STIs from unprotected sex. Promotion of young population’s awareness about risky sexual behaviors is essential to develop contextualized interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five Vietnamese provinces to document current attitu...

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Main Authors: Ha Ngoc Do, Diep Ngoc Nguyen, Hoa Quynh Thi Nguyen, Anh Tuan Nguyen, Hiep Duy Nguyen, Thanh Phuong Bui, Thao Bich Thi Vu, Khiet Thanh Le, Dung Tuan Nguyen, Cuong Tat Nguyen, Linh Gia Vu, Giang Thu Vu, Bach Xuan Tran, Carl A. Latkin, Roger C. M. Ho, Cyrus S. H. Ho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/6/1903
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spelling doaj-4f7911e805be41999dbebf5e2db3632e2020-11-25T02:25:05ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012020-03-01176190310.3390/ijerph17061903ijerph17061903Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in VietnamHa Ngoc Do0Diep Ngoc Nguyen1Hoa Quynh Thi Nguyen2Anh Tuan Nguyen3Hiep Duy Nguyen4Thanh Phuong Bui5Thao Bich Thi Vu6Khiet Thanh Le7Dung Tuan Nguyen8Cuong Tat Nguyen9Linh Gia Vu10Giang Thu Vu11Bach Xuan Tran12Carl A. Latkin13Roger C. M. Ho14Cyrus S. H. Ho15Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, VietnamInstitute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, VietnamDepartment of Research on Youth Culture and Lifestyle, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Research on Youth Culture and Lifestyle, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Research on Children’s issues, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Research on Children’s issues, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Research on Youth’s Organisations and Youth Campaign, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Research on Youth’s Organisations and Youth Campaign, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Research on Youth and Legal issues, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, VietnamInstitute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, VietnamCenter of Excellence in Evidence-based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamCenter of Excellence in Evidence-based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamInstitute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamBloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USADepartment of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, SingaporeDepartment of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, SingaporeYouths and adolescents are vulnerable to HIV/STIs from unprotected sex. Promotion of young population’s awareness about risky sexual behaviors is essential to develop contextualized interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five Vietnamese provinces to document current attitudes and practices regarding sexual behaviors among youths. The information on sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and sexual behaviors was collected via self-reported questionnaires. The factors associated with risky sexual behaviors were identified by the multivariate logistic regression. Among the 1200 participants, 73.5% reported having sex in their lifetime, and 48.1% used condoms at their latest sexual intercourse. Participants in urban areas were more likely not to intend to use condoms and had a higher unintended pregnancy rate than in rural areas. Older age was positively associated with not wanting to use and not using condoms. Substance-using participants were more likely to not use condoms. The participants taking alcohol or other stimulants before sex had a higher likelihood of unintended pregnancy. Respondents’ attitudes and practices regarding sexual behaviors were associated with gender and employment. This study indicated that young population’s awareness in Vietnam is high, however, risky sexual behaviors also remain common. Sex-related educational programs about the consequences of substance use, multiple sex partners, and unprotected sex should be developed.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/6/1903risky sexual behaviorsadolescentsyouthscondom usealcoholunintended pregnancy
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Ha Ngoc Do
Diep Ngoc Nguyen
Hoa Quynh Thi Nguyen
Anh Tuan Nguyen
Hiep Duy Nguyen
Thanh Phuong Bui
Thao Bich Thi Vu
Khiet Thanh Le
Dung Tuan Nguyen
Cuong Tat Nguyen
Linh Gia Vu
Giang Thu Vu
Bach Xuan Tran
Carl A. Latkin
Roger C. M. Ho
Cyrus S. H. Ho
spellingShingle Ha Ngoc Do
Diep Ngoc Nguyen
Hoa Quynh Thi Nguyen
Anh Tuan Nguyen
Hiep Duy Nguyen
Thanh Phuong Bui
Thao Bich Thi Vu
Khiet Thanh Le
Dung Tuan Nguyen
Cuong Tat Nguyen
Linh Gia Vu
Giang Thu Vu
Bach Xuan Tran
Carl A. Latkin
Roger C. M. Ho
Cyrus S. H. Ho
Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in Vietnam
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
risky sexual behaviors
adolescents
youths
condom use
alcohol
unintended pregnancy
author_facet Ha Ngoc Do
Diep Ngoc Nguyen
Hoa Quynh Thi Nguyen
Anh Tuan Nguyen
Hiep Duy Nguyen
Thanh Phuong Bui
Thao Bich Thi Vu
Khiet Thanh Le
Dung Tuan Nguyen
Cuong Tat Nguyen
Linh Gia Vu
Giang Thu Vu
Bach Xuan Tran
Carl A. Latkin
Roger C. M. Ho
Cyrus S. H. Ho
author_sort Ha Ngoc Do
title Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in Vietnam
title_short Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in Vietnam
title_full Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in Vietnam
title_fullStr Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in Vietnam
title_full_unstemmed Patterns of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Youths and Adolescents in Vietnam
title_sort patterns of risky sexual behaviors and associated factors among youths and adolescents in vietnam
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1660-4601
publishDate 2020-03-01
description Youths and adolescents are vulnerable to HIV/STIs from unprotected sex. Promotion of young population’s awareness about risky sexual behaviors is essential to develop contextualized interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five Vietnamese provinces to document current attitudes and practices regarding sexual behaviors among youths. The information on sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and sexual behaviors was collected via self-reported questionnaires. The factors associated with risky sexual behaviors were identified by the multivariate logistic regression. Among the 1200 participants, 73.5% reported having sex in their lifetime, and 48.1% used condoms at their latest sexual intercourse. Participants in urban areas were more likely not to intend to use condoms and had a higher unintended pregnancy rate than in rural areas. Older age was positively associated with not wanting to use and not using condoms. Substance-using participants were more likely to not use condoms. The participants taking alcohol or other stimulants before sex had a higher likelihood of unintended pregnancy. Respondents’ attitudes and practices regarding sexual behaviors were associated with gender and employment. This study indicated that young population’s awareness in Vietnam is high, however, risky sexual behaviors also remain common. Sex-related educational programs about the consequences of substance use, multiple sex partners, and unprotected sex should be developed.
topic risky sexual behaviors
adolescents
youths
condom use
alcohol
unintended pregnancy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/6/1903
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