Document 0334
 DOCN  M94A0334
 TI    The impact of AIDS on an urban population of high-risk female minority
       adolescents: implications for intervention.
 DT    9412
 AU    Overby KJ; Kegeles SM; Department of Pediatrics, University of
       California-San Francisco.
 SO    J Adolesc Health. 1994 May;15(3):216-27. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94355315
 AB    PURPOSE: This study's purpose was to describe acquired immunodeficiency
       syndrome (AIDS)-related concerns, risk behaviors, and
       psychosocial/situational determinants of condom use among an urban
       minority population of sexually active, adolescent girls. In addition we
       sought to define the accuracy of personal AIDS risk-assessment, the
       relative importance of AIDS in relation to other concerns, and the
       broader context of sexual experience and attitudes in this population.
       METHODS: A cross-sectional interview study was conducted involving
       sexually active female adolescents attending a pediatric clinic in an
       inner-city university-affiliated community hospital. Sixty-nine subjects
       (ages 13-19 yr, 90% African-American) were enrolled. While the goals of
       this study were primarily descriptive, subject characteristics felt to
       impact on condom use were identified prior to data collection and were
       examined against several measures of usage including: use at the time of
       last sexual intercourse, overall frequency of condom use, and reported
       behavior change to include initiation of or increased condom usage.
       RESULTS: Forty-one percent of participants reported knowing someone with
       AIDS. Global concern regarding this disease was high, although worry
       about poverty-related issues was often greater. Despite concern and high
       measures of AIDS risk (median number of sex partners, 3; past sexually
       transmitted disease, 55%; past pregnancy 77%), most participants
       perceived themselves to be at low personal risk owing to current
       monogamy, lack of intravenous drug use, and implicit trust in their
       partner's safety. Discussion with their partner about actual risk and
       awareness of the importance of past behaviors was generally lacking.
       Although 98% were aware that condoms may prevent AIDS, 64% used condoms
       half of the time or less when they had sex and use appeared to be
       primarily for contraception. Several intrinsic cognitive/psychological
       and extrinsic social/situational factors were found to correlate with
       measures of condom use. CONCLUSIONS: Participants' sexual histories and
       behavior emphasize the need for concern regarding AIDS risk in this
       population. Patterns of sexual behavior and beliefs regarding committed
       relationships raise challenging questions regarding how to motivate
       sexually active members of this population to use condoms more
       frequently. Programs aimed at AIDS prevention among urban minority
       adolescents need to be cognizant of the larger personal and
       sociocultural context in which these teenagers are making
       health-behavior choices.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  Adolescence  *Adolescent Psychology  *Blacks
       Condoms/*UTILIZATION  Cross-Sectional Studies  Female  Health Behavior
       Human  *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  *Minority Groups  Motivation
       Risk Factors  Risk-Taking  Sex Behavior  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  *Urban Population  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).