Title: Determinants of sexual habits in Italian females.

POPLINE Document Number: 081233

Author(s):

Parazzini F
Cavalieri d'Oro L
Negri E
La Vecchia C

Source citation:

GENITOURINARY MEDICINE, 1992 Dec;68(6):394-8.

Abstract:

This study sought to identify characteristics of women who reported multiple sexual partners and early age at 1st intercourse in Italy. Information on 1139 control women (median age 54 years) interviewed as part of a case-control study of cervical neoplasia conducted in the greater Milan area, Northern Italy, were analyzed using stratified analysis and multiple logistic regression. Overall, 81% of the study sample reported no more than 1 sexual partner, 10% reported 2, and 9% reported 3 or more. The proportion reporting multiple sexual partners tended to be higher among younger and more educated women (4% vs 19% of women with, respectively, less than 7 and 12 or more years of education reported 3 or more partners). Ever smokers reported a higher number of sexual partners than never smokers. The proportion of nulliparae reporting 3 or more sexual partners was higher than that of parous women. These findings were confirmed after taking into account in a multivariate analysis the role of potential confounding factors. Furthermore, similar findings emerged from an analysis restricted to women aged 40 years or less. always considering number of sexual partners, no relationship emerged with marital status, spontaneous or induced abortions, lifetime number of reported Pap smears, and contraceptive habits. With reference to age at 1st intercourse, 25% of the study population reported their 1st intercourse at age 18 or earlier, 34% between 19-22 years, and 41% at age 23 or older. Younger women (i.e., more recent cohorts) more frequently reported earlier age at 1st intercourse and the proportion of never married women reporting early intercourse was higher (51% vs 22% of never married vs married women). No relationship emerged between education, smoking habits, parity, history of spontaneous or induced abortions, number of Pap smears, contraceptive habits, and age at 1st intercourse. This study documents conservative sexual habits in Northern Italian females (at least on the basis of self-reporting) but indicates that any educational campaigns towards safe sex should be focused towards younger women, particularly smokers unmarried, and nulliparae. (author's)

Keywords:

Italy
Case Control Studies
Sex Behavior
Multiple Partners
Control Groups
Demographic Factors
Life Style
Age Factors
Cervical Cancer
Socioeconomic Factors
Women
Europe, Southern
Europe
Developed Countries
Studies
Research Methodology
Behavior
Sexual Partners
Population
Population Characteristics
Cancer
Neoplasms
Diseases
Economic Factors