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Individual and community risk factors and sexually transmitted diseases among arrested youths: a two level analysis

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Abstract

High rates of infection for chlamydia and gonorrhea have been noted among youths involved in the juvenile justice system. Although both individual and community-level factors have been found to be associated with sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk, their relative importance has not been tested in this population. A two-level logistic regression analysis was completed to assess the influence of individual-level and community-level predictors on STD test results among arrested youths processed at a centralized intake facility. Results from weighted two level logistic regression analyses (n = 1,368) indicated individual-level factors of gender (being female), age, race (being African American), and criminal history predicted the youths’ positive STD status. For the community-level predictors, concentrated disadvantage significantly and positively predicted the youths’ STD status. Implications of these findings for future research and public health policy are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

Preparation of this manuscript was supported by Grant # DA020346, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The authors are grateful for their support. However, the research results reported and the views expressed in the paper do not necessarily imply any policy or research endorsement by our funding agency. We would like to thank the Hillsborough County, FL Juvenile Assessment Center and the Hillsborough County Health Department. We also appreciate Dr. Paul Greenbaum’s general advice on our analyses, as well as those of the Editor and reviewers.

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Dembo, R., Belenko, S., Childs, K. et al. Individual and community risk factors and sexually transmitted diseases among arrested youths: a two level analysis. J Behav Med 32, 303–316 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-009-9205-8

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