INSIGHTS FOR A ‘SLOW EPIDEMIC’ OF HPV-RELATED OROPHARYNGEAL CANCER: CHARACTERISTICS OF ENGAGEMENT IN ORAL SEX BEHAVIOUR AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE IN BRITAIN

This paper aims to identify the factors that predict engagement in oral sex amongst young people in Britain using a nationally representative sample from NATSAL II survey. Descriptives and Chi-Squire tests were used to explore characteristics of oral sex behaviour. Resulted set of significant predictors was a subject to analysis that involved a logistic regression to identify the model providing the best fit of indicators. 72% of the total sample across all UK regions reported engagement in oral sex, both in fellatio and cunnilingus. The highest level of engagement in oral sex was found amongst Roman Catholics and Anglicans, the lowest — among Muslims. Engagement in oral sex was predicted by academic qualification, type of source of sex education, alcohol intake, religiosity, and the personal importance of religious beliefs. In light of the increase in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer in younger Caucasian male patients, this indicates that young people’s sexual health is becoming a matter of high importance for public health.