Sexual risk behaviors, AIDS knowledge, and beliefs about AIDS among runaways.

American Journal of Public HealthPublished 1 February 1991Open access

Mary Jane Rotheram‐Borus, Cheryl Koopman

DOI10.2105/ajph.81.2.208

Source URL

Citations135

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score1.93

SNIP1.60

View PDF

TL;DR

Runaways demonstrated moderately high AIDS knowledge and beliefs endorsing AIDS prevention, and condom use and abstinence were directly related to beliefs about preventing AIDS.

Abstract

Sexual risk behaviors, knowledge of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and beliefs about AIDS prevention were examined among 126 runaways. In the previous 3 months, 65 percent of youths had been sexually active. Among the sexually active runaways, males reported a median of 2.7 partners and females reported 1.3 partners, and only 18 percent reported consistent condom use. Runaways demonstrated moderately high AIDS knowledge and beliefs endorsing AIDS prevention. Condom use and abstinence were directly related to beliefs about preventing AIDS.

Keywords

Social SciencesHealth Professions

American Journal of Public HealthBeliefs about AIDS, use of alcohol and drugs, and unprotected sex among Massachusetts adolescents.

517 Citations1990Ralph Hingson, Lee Strunin +2 more

Logistic regression tested whether alcohol and drug use, perceived susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), severity of HIV if infected, effectiveness of condoms in preventing infection, barriers to condom use, and behavioral cues such as exposure to media or personal communication about acquired immunODeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were independently related to condoms use.

View PDF

Family Planning PerspectivesSexual Activity, Condom Use and AIDS Awareness Among Adolescent Males

327 Citations1989Freya L. Sonenstein, Joseph H. Pleck +1 more

New data from the 1988 National Survey of Adolescent Males indicate that 60 percent of never-married young men ages 15-19 are sexually active, and rates of condom use were significantly lower than average among young men who had ever used drugs intravenously or whose partners had done so, young menwho had ever had sex with a prostitute and those who had had five sexual partners or more in the past year.

American Journal of Public HealthA risk profile comparison of runaway and non-runaway youth.

249 Citations1988Gary L. Yates, Richard G. MacKenzie +2 more

Based on data from the Childrens Hospital Adolescent Risk Profile Interview, runaway street youth are at greater risk for a wide variety of medical problems and of health-compromising behaviors including suicide and depression, prostitution, and drug use.

View PDF

PEDIATRICSAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Adolescents: Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors in a New York City Adolescent Minority Population

155 Citations1989Elizabeth Goodman, Alwyn Cohall

The knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors concerning acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a group of innercity adolescents in New York City were assessed, and those who changed behaviors tended to have a greater perceived risk, worry more frequently about the disease, and have a better knowledge of means of HIV transmission.

Journal of Adolescent Health CareAdolescents and AIDS

108 Citations1989Vaughn I. Rickert, M. Susan Jay +2 more

It was determined that decreased EM was related to increased age and basic knowledge of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (KA), comfort in discussing contraception with partner (CC) and risk of contracting AIDS (AR).

AIDS Education and PreventionAssessment of Knowledge of AIDS and Beliefs About AIDS Prevention Among Adolescents

85 Citations1990Cheryl Koopman, Mary Jane Rotheram–Borus +3 more

These measures were administered to three samples of adolescents at high risk for contracting AIDS and suggested that these measures identify gaps in knowledge and beliefs among high-risk youth.