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Patterns of Age Mixing and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
International Journal of STD & AIDS 2006; 17:378-383.
Kraut-Becher JR, Aral SO.
Abstract
Age mixing is an important indicator of sexually transmitted infection (STI)
prevalence in partner pools. We use the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth
(NSFG), a nationally representative sample of reproductive-age American women,
to assess the extent of age mixing and to examine the association between
age mixing and STI history. Almost half (48%) of the women in our sample
report partnerships with much older or younger men. The likelihood of an
STI diagnosis or receipt of STI care (test or treatment) increases as the
age difference increases among adolescents. Women in their mid-to-late 20s
with much younger partners report receipt of STI care more often than other
women. Report of an STI diagnosis is more common among older women with much
younger partners than among others of their age. Age-mixing information may
be helpful for screening initiatives and targeting interventions aimed at
decreasing STI rates, their sequelae, and STI transmission.