Changes in incarcerated adolescents' human immunodeficiency virus knowledge and selected behaviors from 1988 to 1996

Acculturation and parent-adolescent communication about sex in Filipino-American families: a community-based participatory research study

PURPOSE

To examine whether acculturation is associated with parent-adolescent communication about sex in Filipino-American families. Filipino-Americans, the United States' second-largest Asian and Pacific Islander (API) group, have more adolescent pregnancy and HIV infection than other APIs. High-quality parent-adolescent communication about sex has been associated with healthy sexual development, and acculturation has been associated with various increased health risks. Whether acculturation affects parent-adolescent communication is unknown.

METHODS

We surveyed 120 pairs of Filipino-American parents and adolescents at a single large high school. We asked adolescents about their frequency of parent-adolescent communication about sex and measured adolescent acculturation in two ways: disagreement with traditional Asian values and preferential use of English. In bivariate and multivariate regressions, we examined whether adolescent acculturation was associated with adolescent reports of parent-adolescent communication.

RESULTS

Few adolescents (22%) reported regularly discussing sex with parents. Although most adolescents (72%) agreed with traditional Asian values, most (63%) preferred using English. In bivariate regressions, less parent-adolescent communication about sex was associated with less adolescent agreement with traditional Asian values (p = .002) and more adolescent English use (p = .009). In multivariate regressions, these associations were largely explained by adolescent perceptions of parent knowledge about their whereabouts and activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Acculturation may influence Filipino-American parent-adolescent communication about sex and, consequently, Filipino-American adolescent sexual health. Health care and public health providers may need to tailor adolescent sexual health programs based on acculturation or other immigration-related factors.

Impact of marriage on HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among impoverished, at-risk couples: a multilevel latent variable approach

Studies among normative samples generally demonstrate a positive impact of marriage on health behaviors and other related attitudes. In this study, we examine the impact of marriage on HIV/AIDS risk behaviors and attitudes among impoverished, highly stressed, homeless couples, many with severe substance abuse problems. A multilevel analysis of 368 high-risk sexually intimate married and unmarried heterosexual couples assessed individual and couple-level effects on social support, substance use problems, HIV/AIDS knowledge, perceived HIV/AIDS risk, needle-sharing, condom use, multiple sex partners, and HIV/AIDS testing. More variance was explained in the protective and risk variables by couple-level latent variable predictors than by individual latent variable predictors, although some gender effects were found (e.g., more alcohol problems among men). The couple-level variable of marriage predicted lower perceived risk, less deviant social support, and fewer sex partners but predicted more needle-sharing.

Sexually transmitted infection and blood-borne virus screening in juvenile correctional facilities: A review of the literature and recommendations for Australian centres

BACKGROUND

Juveniles in custody are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STI) and blood-borne viruses (BBV) due to high rates of risk behaviours.

METHODS

A literature review was undertaken with the aim of providing evidence-based recommendations on STI/BBV screening in Australian juvenile correctional facilities. Relevant research was identified using Premedline and Medline databases, followed by a manual search of reference lists in relevant articles identified in the database search. A total of 36 relevant publications were identified and reviewed.

RESULTS

STI/BBV knowledge in incarcerated youth is poor and accompanied by high rates of sexual and blood-borne risk behaviours. The prevalence of these infections is considerable. High rates of asymptomatic gonococcal and chlamydial infections exist, which can be easily diagnosed on self-collected specimens using new nucleic acid amplification technology. HIV infections are rare although continued vigilance is needed in view of substantial risk factors for infection. Hepatitis C prevalence is high, although much lower than that of adult prisoners, signifying a possible window of opportunity for Hepatitis C prevention. Many remain at risk of Hepatitis B, and it is important to assess the need for vaccination in this group.

CONCLUSION

Screening for STI/BBV in incarcerated juveniles is of major public health importance and all individuals should be offered screening in conjunction with risk-reduction education during their admission to juvenile detention centres.

Heterosocial behaviors in early adolescent African American girls: the role of mother-daughter relationships

Recent epidemiological trends in HIV/AIDS have helped draw attention to minority adolescents as especially high risk for HIV acquisition. Research shows the importance of maternal-child closeness and sexual communication in decreasing adolescent risk behaviors. The information, motivation, behavioral skills model (IMB) formed the framework for this pilot study whose purpose was to examine the informational and motivational antecedents of heterosocial risks in African American middle-school-aged girls and the maternal influence on these risks. Thirty-nine mother-daughter dyads participated, of whom 54% were impoverished. The girls' intent to stay safe, perceived social norms, and closeness to mother were negatively correlated with reported participation in potentially risky situations. Early interventions may enhance mother-daughter bonding, increasing sexual communication, and decreasing girls' participation in risky behaviors. This pilot study provides direction regarding testing of the IMB model in studies focused on early adolescent behaviors and mother-daughter interactions.

Psychiatric functioning and substance use: factors associated with HIV risk among incarcerated adolescents

This study examined several types of psychiatric functioning (neuropsychiatric, emotional, and cognitive functioning) and substance use in relation to HIV risk behavior among 894 incarcerated girls and boys. Youth remanded to juvenile correctional facilities in a southern US state completed a structured interview regarding abuse history, emotional and behavioral difficulties, and demographics. Adolescents who experienced sullen affect were significantly more likely to engage in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection. Moreover, higher levels of alcohol use predicted HIV risk behavior. HIV prevention efforts need to address emotional distress as well as substance use among delinquent adolescents to reduce HIV risk behavior. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.

Impulsivity and HIV risk among adjudicated alcohol- and other drug-abusing adolescent offenders

Although impulsivity is likely to be related to HIV risk--particularly in incarcerated substance-abusing youth--this area of research has been understudied. To investigate the relationship between impulsivity and various HIV/AIDS risk behaviors and attitudes, a sample of court-referred and incarcerated culturally diverse inner-city adolescents (males: N = 266; females: N = 111) were divided into high and low impulsive groups based on the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory Impulsivity Scale. Findings showed that compared to the less impulsive group, the highly impulsive adolescents reported more frequent marijuana and alcohol use in the last 3 months as well as a significantly higher proportion of unprotected sex when high on alcohol and marijuana, higher perceived susceptibility to HIV, more AIDS-related anxiety, greater HIV knowledge, less sexual self-efficacy, and less favorable sexual attitudes. Implications for interventions among incarcerated youth are discussed.