Substance use, intimate partner violence, and depression contribute to sexual risk individually, yet have not been evaluated as a syndemic for adolescents. Using data from 772 pregnant Latina adolescents, we evaluated these factors as a syndemic and tested the moderating role of immigration. Bivariate analyses showed syndemic score (OR = 1.40, p = 0.02) and severity (OR = 1.68, p = 0.006) were predictors for multiple sex partners, and syndemic score predicting STIs (OR = 1.15, p = 0.05). Syndemic severity remained significant in multivariate analyses for multiple sex partners (OR = 1.53, p = 0.04). Moderation analyses showed higher syndemic severity was associated with more condom use among immigrants (OR = 1.75, p = 0.04) and less condom use (OR = 0.07, p = 0.011) among those with separated orientation. Higher syndemic severity also predicted greater odds for multiple partners (OR = 2.40, p = 0.01) among immigrants. This evidence suggests a sexual risk syndemic exists among Latina adolescents. Research should continue exploring this phenomenon, particularly exploring the role immigration plays for sexual health. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

health disparities Depression Substance use Immigration Intimate partner violence

depression immigrant HIV Infections sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection health disparity complication human immigration sexuality Sexual Partners Pregnant Women statistics and numerical data Substance-Related Disorders drug dependence Hispanic Americans Unsafe Sex Spouse Abuse condom use Humans migrant psychology Hispanic Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation female substance use evaluation study pregnancy cultural factor sexual health high risk behavior Risk-Taking bivariate analysis Intimate Partner Violence major clinical study partner violence pregnant woman