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

Dembo R, Belenko S, Childs K, Wareham J, Schmeidler J

Criminology Department, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. jac@gate.net

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.

Published 9 June 2009 in J Behav Med, 32(4): 303-16.
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