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An Assessment of HIV/STI Vulnerability and Related Sexual Risk-Taking in a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Croatian Adults

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Abstract

Despite the recent increase in the number of HIV infections in Central and Eastern Europe, patterns of sexual behavior have not been extensively researched, particularly among young people. The aim of the present study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of HIV/AIDS-related vulnerability and sexual risk-taking among young adults in Croatia. Data were collected in 2005 using a nationally representative, multi-stage stratified probability sample (n = 1,093) of women and men aged 18–24 years. The focus in this article was on predictors of sexual risk-taking measured by a composite risky sexual behaviors scale. Using hierarchical regression models, we analyzed gendered effects of community, family, peer group, and individual level factors. For both men and women, peer pressure, sensation seeking, personal risk-assessment, behavioral intention, condom use at first sexual intercourse, and sexual victimization were significant predictors of sexual risk-taking behaviors. A number of predictors were gender-specific: sexual assertiveness and condom self-efficacy for women and parental monitoring, traditional morality, HIV knowledge, and talking about sex with partner for men. Documenting substantial prevalence of potentially risky sexual behaviors among young people in Croatia, the findings call for prevention and intervention efforts that should focus on individual capacity building for responsible sexual behavior.

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Notes

  1. This reflects the acute housing problem in Croatia, caused by both the shortage of available flats and their high market price. Most young people in Croatia remain living with their parents until they get married, at which time both their families may pool their resources and buy a flat for the newlyweds. The gender difference in percentage of participants living with their parents should be attributed to the finding that young women were more likely to be married at interview.

  2. Of the 23% of men and women who claimed to have changed their behavior in the last 12 months, most reported more frequent condom use followed by having sex with only one, steady partner.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Global Fund to Fighting AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (national grant) and the Croatian Ministry of Health and Social Care. The authors are grateful to Ivan Landripet, Jelena Zelenbrz, Dea Ajduković, and Tanja Vučković for their assistance in preparing the research study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, University of Zagreb, I. Lučića 3, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia

    Aleksandar Štulhofer & Krešimir Kufrin

  2. Oxford Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology, Isis Education Centre, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, England, UK

    Cynthia Graham

  3. School of Public Health, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Ivana Božičević

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Dean Ajduković

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  1. Aleksandar Štulhofer
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Correspondence to Aleksandar Štulhofer.

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Štulhofer, A., Graham, C., Božičević, I. et al. An Assessment of HIV/STI Vulnerability and Related Sexual Risk-Taking in a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Croatian Adults. Arch Sex Behav 38, 209–225 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9234-8

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