Patterns of Sexual Partnerships and their Effects on STD Infection Rates in the U.S.

J. Elizabeth Jackson, University of Washington
Koray Tanfer, Battelle- Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation

The potential impact of concurrent (simultaneous) sexual partnerships on the spread of HIV infections among the heterosexual population has not received adequate attention, even though mathematical models suggest that concurrent partnerships greatly amplify the spread of an infectious agent when compared with sequential monogamy. We will examine the antecedents, correlates, and outcomes of sexual concurrency patterns in the National Survey of Family Growth, Cycle 6, which includes nationally representative samples of men and women in the U.S. ages 15 to 44. We will examine types (e.g., initial vs. secondary) and patterns (e.g., duration, number) of concurrent partnerships, as a function of individual characteristics (e.g., age, race/ethnicity education, religion) and framing events (e.g., HIV/STD-risk sexual behaviors, alcohol and/or drug use prior to sex). Subsequently we will examine the effects of the types and patterns of concurrent partnerships on the likelihood of being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.