40% Of NYC Residents With Multiple Sex Partners Engaged In Sex Without Condoms, Report Finds

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 27 Jun 2008 - 6:00 PST

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About 40% of New York City residents who have multiple sex partners did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter, according to a report released Tuesday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York Daily News reports. The report was based on telephone interviews with 10,000 adults living in the city (Lucadamo, New York Daily News, 6/25).

According to the report, about 11% of New York City residents, or about 610,000, had more than one sex partner the year leading up to the survey. Adults not in a relationship are more likely to have had two or more sex partners (19%) than those who are married or in a relationship (5%). Men were three times more likely than women to report multiple partners, the report found (AP/Long Island Newsday, 6/24).

The report notes that "sexual activity" is a normal part of life and that many New Yorkers who are sexually active do not take precautions to avoid sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancies. The report also finds that condom use is similar between women and men (62% v. 61%) (Health department report, 6/24). According to the Daily News, one-third of women ages 18 to 44 did not use any contraception during their last sexual encounter even though 83% said they were not planning a pregnancy. In 2006, 60,000 new cases of STIs, including 3,745 HIV cases, were reported in New York City.

City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden called on city residents to use condoms and encouraged people to have fewer sex partners to avoid contracting STIs or having unplanned pregnancies. He also urged residents to get tested for STIs at the 10 express health department clinics across the city. The agency also provides no-cost emergency contraception and no-cost condoms, the Daily News reports (New York Daily News, 6/25).

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