Gender, Ethnic, and Acculturation Differences in Sexual Behaviors: Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Adults

Abstract

Hispanics have an increased prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). To describe the prevalence of sexual behaviors of Hispanics, we conducted surveys of randomly selected residents in census tract areas and members of a health maintenance organization (n = 2,596). Hispanic men were more likely to start sexual intercourse at an earlier age and reported lower rates of condom use than non-Hispanic White men. Hispanic women reported having a higher number of children, less use of barrier contraception, fewer lifetime sexualpartners, andfewer STDs than non-Hispanic White women. Less-acculturated Hispanic men reported a younger age for theirfirst sexual intercourse and a lower frequency of condom use than did more highly acculturated Hispanic men. Highly acculturated Hispanic women reporteda highernumberof lifetime sexual partners than did less-acculturated women. Gender differences, mediated by marital status, age, and education, were more significantly associated with sexual behavior than ethnicity.