Document 2243
 DOCN  M94A2243
 TI    Reframing the concept of HIV risk in Puerto Rican youth by using social
       network data.
 DT    9412
 AU    Alegria M; Vera M; School of Public Health, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):349 (abstract no. PD0002). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370332
 AB    OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to establish the association between the HIV
       risk-related behaviors of the youth and those of his/her personal
       network in an effort to reframe the concept of HIV-risk. METHOD:
       Interviews were conducted with 117 youth aged 12-15, residing in low
       income neighborhoods. An area probability sample was used to select
       initial node respondents. A link-tracing network sampling technique was
       used to select additional associates of the youth. Descriptive
       statistics and odds ratios were used to achieve our aims. RESULTS:
       Findings show that youth associate with friends who share similar sexual
       and drug use behaviors. Approximately one third of the youth (12-15)
       interviewed in the initial node reported being sexually active without
       any condom use. Of the ones sexually active, more than seventy percent
       had social networks with similar sexual practices. Youth who reported no
       drug use evidenced a network of friends of almost exclusive non-drug
       users (93.5%). Only 9.6% of the 12-15 youth were engaged in illicit drug
       use. However 29% of this group hold ties in their networks to drug
       users. CONCLUSION: Personal networks appear to influence adolescent's
       access to HIV-risk related practices. Structural aspects of the youth's
       social network should be included in the conceptualization of their
       HIV-risk.
 DE    Adolescence  *Behavior  Child  Health Education  Human  HIV
       Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  *Interpersonal Relations  Poverty
       Areas  Puerto Rico  Risk Factors  Sex Behavior  Substance Abuse  MEETING
       ABSTRACT

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