Self-reported Ecstasy (MDMA) Use and Past Occurrence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in a Cohort Juvenile Detainees in the USA

Self-reported Ecstasy (MDMA) Use and Past Occurrence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in a Cohort Juvenile Detainees in the USA

Journal of Community Health, August 2014

25160467

Torrance Stephens, Rhonda Conerly Holliday, Jerriyauna Jarboe

The current study was designed to determine the extent to which self-reported ecstasy use in a population of juvenile adolescent detainees in a southern state is associated with high-risk health behaviors pertaining to sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptomology and past history of STI occurrence. Participants were 2,260 juvenile offenders housed at selected Youth Development Campuses in the state of Georgia. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) are presented. Juveniles who reported having used ecstasy previously were more likely to report that they had sore bumps of blisters near their sex organs before (OR 1.28, 95 % CI 0.74-2.21), with males who had used ecstasy prior incarceration being more than two times more likely to indicated that they had experienced having a drip or drainage from the penis (OR 1.76, 95 % CI 0.72-4.32), having vaginal discharge or odor from their vagina (OR 2.33, 95 % CI 1.16-4.65).