Background:
Incarcerated youth- especially females- are at a higher risk than their peers for contracting a sexually transmitted disease. In a previous study of incarcerated girls, we found race, attitudes about alcohol and marijuana, sex under the influence of alcohol, and lifetime partners to be significant predictors of STD positivity.

Objective:
To replicate the findings from a previous study and to examine factors related to risk of contracting an STD, focusing on factors specifically related to female gender and partner characteristics

Method:
Data were collected from 151 girls incarcerated at a youth correctional facility; only those who were sexually active were included in the analysis (N=130). The participants completed a self-administered survey using automated computer assisted interviewing technology. They also were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Syphilis and HIV.


Result:
In bivariate analysis predictors of STD infection were frequency of alcohol use, number of partners in the past 3 months, history of rape/forced sex, sex under the influence of alcohol, STD history and boyfriend characteristics. In the multivariate model, the only significant predictor was having a coerive and controlling boyfriend.

Conclusion:
This is an exploratory analysis of data collected for an ongoing project. We wanted to determine if the findings from a previous study would be replicated in this sample. This study also included variables related to the participant's sex partner. The boyfriend characteristics scale which contains items such as boyfriend controlled, threatened or hurt, and forced sex, was a significant predictor of STD infection. We plan to continue data collection and complete the analysis with a larger sample.

Implications:
These data highlight the need for examining partner characteristics and suggest the need to include specific skills training such as assertiveness training and partner negotiations when designing STD risk-prevention interventions for young women.