Defining Risky Sexual Behaviour in the UK: A Latent Class Approach

Description/Abstract

This paper aims to define risky sexual behaviour in the UK with respect to the two most
common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases: chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Using data
from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles II, a nationally
representative survey of sexual behaviour in Britain, this study aims to identify patterns
of behaviours associated with increased disease risk by applying latent class techniques.
A 3-class solution was obtained, splitting the sample into individuals with no sexual
partners in the last year (8%), one sexual partner in the last year (71%) and the risky
group, who had two or more sexual partners in the last year (21%). The paper then
explores the prevalence of risky behaviour by ethnic group, age group and marital status.