Risk of Contraceptive Lapse and New Sexual Partnership Among Female University Students Traveling Internationally

Summer L. Martins; Susan M Mason; Wendy L. Hellerstedt; Sonya S Brady

doi:10.1363/psrh.12075

Risk of Contraceptive Lapse and New Sexual Partnership Among Female University Students Traveling Internationally

Summer L. Martins
, Susan M Mason
, Wendy L. Hellerstedt
, Sonya S Brady

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

CONTEXT: International travel is common and may influence women's sexual and reproductive health through myriad pathways. Existing studies focus on travelers’ risk of acquiring STDs, but not their pregnancy prevention behaviors. Further, it is unclear whether sexual and reproductive health outcomes observed for female travelers are associated with travel itself, because few studies compare travelers with nontravelers. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 2016–2017 among females attending a U.S. university who reported a history of sex with men; the sample comprised 340 students who had traveled internationally in the past three months (travelers) and 170 who intended to travel in the next three months (pretravelers). Multivariable modified Poisson regression models assessed associations between travel status and two outcomes during travelers’ recent trip or a period of similar duration for pretravelers: contraceptive lapse (incorrect or inconsistent use of any method) and new sexual partnership. RESULTS: Travelers and pretravelers reported similar levels of contraceptive lapse (29% and 32%, respectively) and new sexual partnerships (17% and 12%). Multivariable analysis confirmed that travelers were no more likely than pretravelers to have contraceptive lapses, but indicated that they were more likely to report a new male partner (relative risk, 1.7). Most participants (80%) had a regular source of sexual and reproductive health care; 42% of travelers had seen a health care provider in preparation for their trip. CONCLUSION: If the findings are corroborated by additional research, they may suggest a role for health care providers in students’ pretravel period.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	173-180
Number of pages	8
Journal	Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
Volume	50
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1363/psrh.12075
State	Published - Dec 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The work on which this article is based was presented as an oral abstract at the annual meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research in Seattle, June 20–23, 2017. Research funding was provided by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Funding for data analysis and manuscript preparation was provided, in part, by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health (US-DHHS/HRSA T76-MC00005).

Funding Information:
The work on which this article is based was presented as an oral abstract at the annual meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research in Seattle, June 20?23, 2017. Research funding was provided by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Funding for data analysis and manuscript preparation was provided, in part, by the University of Minnesota's Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health (US-DHHS/HRSA T76-MC00005).

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2018 by the Guttmacher Institute

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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 5 Gender Equality

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@article{5383f2cf68af47118f3fd55aafb6ec25,

title = "Risk of Contraceptive Lapse and New Sexual Partnership Among Female University Students Traveling Internationally",

abstract = "CONTEXT: International travel is common and may influence women's sexual and reproductive health through myriad pathways. Existing studies focus on travelers{\textquoteright} risk of acquiring STDs, but not their pregnancy prevention behaviors. Further, it is unclear whether sexual and reproductive health outcomes observed for female travelers are associated with travel itself, because few studies compare travelers with nontravelers. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 2016{\textendash}2017 among females attending a U.S. university who reported a history of sex with men; the sample comprised 340 students who had traveled internationally in the past three months (travelers) and 170 who intended to travel in the next three months (pretravelers). Multivariable modified Poisson regression models assessed associations between travel status and two outcomes during travelers{\textquoteright} recent trip or a period of similar duration for pretravelers: contraceptive lapse (incorrect or inconsistent use of any method) and new sexual partnership. RESULTS: Travelers and pretravelers reported similar levels of contraceptive lapse (29\% and 32\%, respectively) and new sexual partnerships (17\% and 12\%). Multivariable analysis confirmed that travelers were no more likely than pretravelers to have contraceptive lapses, but indicated that they were more likely to report a new male partner (relative risk, 1.7). Most participants (80\%) had a regular source of sexual and reproductive health care; 42\% of travelers had seen a health care provider in preparation for their trip. CONCLUSION: If the findings are corroborated by additional research, they may suggest a role for health care providers in students{\textquoteright} pretravel period.",

author = "Martins, \{Summer L.\} and Mason, \{Susan M\} and Hellerstedt, \{Wendy L.\} and Brady, \{Sonya S\}",

note = "Funding Information: The work on which this article is based was presented as an oral abstract at the annual meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research in Seattle, June 20{\textendash}23, 2017. Research funding was provided by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Funding for data analysis and manuscript preparation was provided, in part, by the University of Minnesota{\textquoteright}s Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health (US-DHHS/HRSA T76-MC00005). Funding Information: The work on which this article is based was presented as an oral abstract at the annual meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research in Seattle, June 20?23, 2017. Research funding was provided by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Funding for data analysis and manuscript preparation was provided, in part, by the University of Minnesota's Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health (US-DHHS/HRSA T76-MC00005). Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2018 by the Guttmacher Institute",

year = "2018",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1363/psrh.12075",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "50",

pages = "173--180",

journal = "Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health",

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publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc.",

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T1 - Risk of Contraceptive Lapse and New Sexual Partnership Among Female University Students Traveling Internationally

AU - Martins, Summer L.

AU - Mason, Susan M

AU - Hellerstedt, Wendy L.

AU - Brady, Sonya S

N1 - Funding Information: The work on which this article is based was presented as an oral abstract at the annual meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research in Seattle, June 20–23, 2017. Research funding was provided by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Funding for data analysis and manuscript preparation was provided, in part, by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health (US-DHHS/HRSA T76-MC00005). Funding Information: The work on which this article is based was presented as an oral abstract at the annual meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research in Seattle, June 20?23, 2017. Research funding was provided by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Funding for data analysis and manuscript preparation was provided, in part, by the University of Minnesota's Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health (US-DHHS/HRSA T76-MC00005). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2018 by the Guttmacher Institute

PY - 2018/12

Y1 - 2018/12

N2 - CONTEXT: International travel is common and may influence women's sexual and reproductive health through myriad pathways. Existing studies focus on travelers’ risk of acquiring STDs, but not their pregnancy prevention behaviors. Further, it is unclear whether sexual and reproductive health outcomes observed for female travelers are associated with travel itself, because few studies compare travelers with nontravelers. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 2016–2017 among females attending a U.S. university who reported a history of sex with men; the sample comprised 340 students who had traveled internationally in the past three months (travelers) and 170 who intended to travel in the next three months (pretravelers). Multivariable modified Poisson regression models assessed associations between travel status and two outcomes during travelers’ recent trip or a period of similar duration for pretravelers: contraceptive lapse (incorrect or inconsistent use of any method) and new sexual partnership. RESULTS: Travelers and pretravelers reported similar levels of contraceptive lapse (29% and 32%, respectively) and new sexual partnerships (17% and 12%). Multivariable analysis confirmed that travelers were no more likely than pretravelers to have contraceptive lapses, but indicated that they were more likely to report a new male partner (relative risk, 1.7). Most participants (80%) had a regular source of sexual and reproductive health care; 42% of travelers had seen a health care provider in preparation for their trip. CONCLUSION: If the findings are corroborated by additional research, they may suggest a role for health care providers in students’ pretravel period.

AB - CONTEXT: International travel is common and may influence women's sexual and reproductive health through myriad pathways. Existing studies focus on travelers’ risk of acquiring STDs, but not their pregnancy prevention behaviors. Further, it is unclear whether sexual and reproductive health outcomes observed for female travelers are associated with travel itself, because few studies compare travelers with nontravelers. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 2016–2017 among females attending a U.S. university who reported a history of sex with men; the sample comprised 340 students who had traveled internationally in the past three months (travelers) and 170 who intended to travel in the next three months (pretravelers). Multivariable modified Poisson regression models assessed associations between travel status and two outcomes during travelers’ recent trip or a period of similar duration for pretravelers: contraceptive lapse (incorrect or inconsistent use of any method) and new sexual partnership. RESULTS: Travelers and pretravelers reported similar levels of contraceptive lapse (29% and 32%, respectively) and new sexual partnerships (17% and 12%). Multivariable analysis confirmed that travelers were no more likely than pretravelers to have contraceptive lapses, but indicated that they were more likely to report a new male partner (relative risk, 1.7). Most participants (80%) had a regular source of sexual and reproductive health care; 42% of travelers had seen a health care provider in preparation for their trip. CONCLUSION: If the findings are corroborated by additional research, they may suggest a role for health care providers in students’ pretravel period.

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Risk of Contraceptive Lapse and New Sexual Partnership Among Female University Students Traveling Internationally

Abstract

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