Risky behavior in women with history of casual travel sex.

ABSTRACT

PIP: The aim of this study was to define epidemiologic and psychosocial characteristics of women with a history of casual travel sex abroad. The participants were 996 women seeking contraceptive advice, of whom 276 admitted that they had experienced casual travel sex. The remaining women served as a comparison group. In structured interviews, questions were asked about educational level, partnerships, reproductive history, contraceptive and drug use, smoking, and psychosocial factors such as wariness, success, and attractiveness. The women who had experienced casual travel sex were more often single, had more often experienced broken relationships, were more often smokers, and used alcohol or cannabis at a higher frequency. Their educational level was higher and a history of induced abortions was more common. The results of this study indicate that women with experience of casual travel sex not only take sexual risks but also take other risks that might represent a danger to their health.