OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between exposure to violence and health-risk behaviors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: University-based outpatient family planning clinic. @entity1 : Sexually active adolescent @entity1 younger than 18 years (N = 517) who presented for contraceptive care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of witnessing or experiencing violence and the associations with health-risk behaviors, including high-risk sexual behaviors, substance use, and self-injury. RESULTS: Compared with adolescents who had not been exposed to violence, those who had only witnessed violence were 2 to 3 times more likely to report using @entity286 and marijuana, drinking @entity167 or using drugs before sex, and having intercourse with a partner who had multiple partners. Those who had experienced, but not witnessed violence were at increased risk of these same behaviors and were 2 to 4 times more likely than those who had neither witnessed nor experienced violence to report early initiation of intercourse, intercourse with strangers, multiple partners, or partners with multiple partners, @entity286 , @entity167 and drug use, or to have positive test results for a @entity2953 . Individuals who had both witnessed and experienced violence demonstrated the greatest risk of adverse health behaviors. These adolescents demonstrated 3 to 6 times greater risk of suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-4.0) or suicide attempts (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.2-9.4), self-injury (OR, 5.8; 95% CI, 2.6-12.9), and use of drugs before intercourse (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 3.0-12.9) than those who had neither witnessed nor experienced violence. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents exposed to violence are at increased risk of multiple adverse health behaviors. Programs designed to improve health outcomes should target this high-risk group.

Exposure to violence and associated health-risk behaviors among adolescent XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['PATIENTS', 'girls'] @entity286 :: ('4097', 'Species') :: ['tobacco'] @entity167 :: ('CHEBI:16236', 'Chemical') :: ['alcohol'] @entity2953 :: ('MESH:D012749', 'Disease') :: ['sexually transmitted disease']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['girls']
