Table 2

Relationship between early substance use and early sexual behaviour stratified by gender and European city

Percentage having had sex under 16 years of age


Gender
 City (Country)

Used under 16
 All
 Male
 Female
 Pa
 Lisbon Portugal
 Palma Spain
 Venice Italy
 Athens Greece
 Ljubljana Slovenia
 Prague Czech Republic
 Vienna Austria
 Berlin Germany
 Liverpool UK
 Pa

Alcohol













     No
 14.0
 22.6
 7.1
 ***
 9.5
 12.7
 29.4
 13.3
 15.2
 10.3
 13.0
 22.2
 0.0
 0.117
     Yes
 36.2
 42.0
 30.5
 ***
 30.9
 37.0
 36.6
 33.8
 27.5
 41.5
 49.6
 35.6
 30.0
 *
     P
 ***
 ***
 ***
**
 ***
 ns
 **
 ns
 **
 ***
 ns
 **
Cannabis













     No
 19.3
 27.3
 12.4
 ***
 19.5
 19.0
 21.7
 16.1
 17.8
 22.5
 27.5
 18.8
 11.5
 0.321
     Yes
 50.0
 52.3
 47.4
 ns
 54.5
 40.5
 45.8
 70.6
 46.9
 47.4
 70.6
 47.3
 43.5
 ns
     P
 ***
 ***
 ***
***
 **
 **
 ***
 **
 **
 ***
 **
 ***
Cocaine













     No
 28.0
 34.6
 21.9
 ***
 24.5
 22.7
 29.4
 21.1
 23.7
 34.2
 39.6
 32.3
 25.0
 <0.005
     Yes
 69.0
 75.0
 61.1
 ns
 -
 66.7
 77.8
 100.0
 75.0
 100.0
 100.0
 80.0
 30.0
 ns
     P
 ***
 ***
 ***
na
 *
 **
 ns
 *
 ns
 **
 *
 ns
Ecstasy













     No
 27.2
 34.2
 20.8
 ***
 23.2
 23.6
 28.6
 21.1
 21.6
 32.4
 39.4
 32.3
 22.9
 <0.005
     Yes
 77.8
 80.8
 75.0
 ns
 75.0
 50.0
 87.5
 -
 87.5
 77.8
 100.0
 80.0
 63.6
 ns
     P
 ***
 ***
 ***
*
 Ns
 **
 na
 ***
 *
 **
 *
 **

* p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .001; ns = not significant (two-tailed tests)

aP values compare frequencies within 'substances used under 16' no or yes categories across genders or between countries.

na = not applicable; applied when at least one cross-tabulation category is empty.

Bellis et al. BMC Public Health 2008 8:155   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-155