October 08, 2004

A study released today by the Communicable Disease Control Unit of Manitoba Health indicates a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among street youth aged 14 to 24 years living in Winnipeg.

The study, conducted by epidemiologist Dr. Carole Beaudoin, is part of a national study called Enhanced Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Canadian Street Youth. National data show that an average 8.6 per cent of street youth studied across Canada were infected with chlamydia. The proportion of Manitoba street youth infected with chlamydia was 11.6 per cent.

Beaudoin’s study shows that among the street youth studied, in addition to a high prevalence of chlamydia, many of the youth had multiple sex partners and 21 per cent of the females had engaged in the sex trade. The high rate of partner change among this group, coupled with poor rates of condom use, contribute to a high STI rate. The sexual risk behaviours of this group are in part driven by the social conditions in which these street youth live.

Beaudoin noted increasing overall rates of STI in Manitoba are partly a function of the changing socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the population, altered patterns of risk behaviors, emerging social and sexual networks, and the introduction of various disease prevention and control activities.

"The transmission of STIs in this particular group of Manitoba street-involved youth is influenced by a number of factors including a history of child abuse, low self-esteem and alcohol use." said Beaudoin. "Educating and protecting our youth is key to stemming the epidemic of STIs in Manitoba."

Beaudoin said there are a number of good programs and services for youth currently available throughout Winnipeg and rural Manitoba. However, she recommends STI prevention efforts be regularly reviewed and modified or expanded if necessary to meet the evolving needs of these young people.

The Manitoba portion of the national study was funded by Health Canada. It is hoped that through the national study, governments can better respond to any changes in the occurrence of, and risk factors for, infections among street youth.

To view Beaudoin’s study, visit the Manitoba Health website at:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/surveillance/index.html

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

STUDY ON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION (STI) RATES

The major findings of the Winnipeg portion of the study are as follows:

Demographics

• 320 street youth aged 14 to 24 years were interviewed between January and August 1999.
• 56 per cent of the sample was male; 53 per cent of the sample self-identified as Aboriginal.
• More than half of the sample were not in school; two-thirds had spent at least one night in a detention facility.

Incidence of STI

• 16 per cent of the sample tested positive for at least one of either chlamydia, gonorrhoea or hepatitis B.
• 11.6 per cent tested positive for chlamydia.
• 1.9 per cent tested positive for gonorrhoea.
• 4.1 per cent were positive for core hepatitis B antibodies.

STI Risk Behaviours

• 92 per cent of females and 81 per cent of males had a sex partner in the three months prior to the survey.
• The average number of sex partners over the three months was four. Many youth had regular and casual sex partners.
• 21 per cent of females and five per cent of males were involved in sex trade work in the three months prior to the study.
• Seven per cent of youth injected drugs in the two months prior to the study, 21 per cent of which injected with a used needle.
• Only 14 per cent of youth reported consistent condom use with any type of sexual partner; consistent condom usage was particularly poor with sex trade partners (five per cent always used condoms).
• The highest rate of condom use reported was for casual sex partners (31per cent always used condoms).

Psychosocial Correlates

• Youth with greater self-esteem reported greater condom usage and fewer sexual partners.
• 45 per cent of street youth reported experiencing either sexual, physical or emotional abuse; one-quarter of the sample reported having a sexual encounter with a family member or other person in a position of authority.
• Youth with a history of sexual, physical or emotional abuse reported poorer condom usage and a greater number of sexual partners.
• Most youth reported frequent and good quality contact with at least one parent; youth with a good relationship with at least one parent reported fewer sexual partners.
• Almost half of the sample consumed alcohol on a weekly basis and 38 per cent reported binge drinking on a weekly basis.
• Youth reporting greater alcohol consumption also reported poorer condom usage, a greater number of sexual partners and a greater frequency of injecting with used needles.

Aboriginal vs. Non-Aboriginal

• Aboriginal youth reported more sex partners and greater involvement in sex trade work compared to non-Aboriginal youth.
• Aboriginal youth reported less injection drug use and less use of used needles compared to non-Aboriginal youth.
• Aboriginal youth had lower self-esteem scores than non-Aboriginal youth.
• Non-Aboriginal youth reported greater and more frequent alcohol consumption than Aboriginal youth.