Vulnerability to HIV Infection and Related Health Risk Behaviors of the Out of School Adolescents Migrated with Their Parents to Beijing

• Published in: Biomedical and environmental sciences Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 404 - 410
• Main Authors: MA, Ying-Hua, DING, Su-Qin, WANG, Chao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Elsevier B.V 01.10.2008; Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV/AIDS; Humans; Life skill; Male; Migrant people; Out-of-school adolescent; Psychosocial competency; Risk-Taking; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vulnerability; China; HIV/AIDS; Out-of-school adolescent; Vulnerability; Life skill; Migrant people; Psychosocial competency
• ISSN: 0895-3988; 2214-0190
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-3988(08)60061-6

To explore the vulnerability to HIV infection and related risk behaviors of the out-of-school adolescents who migrated with their parents from rural areas to cities. From September to October 2005, 260 out-of-school adolescents aged 14-20 years were interviewed through a questionnaire. Out-of-school adolescents lacked HIV/AIDS knowledge and related life skills, and their psychosocial competency was relatively low. The interviewed adolescents were open in their sexuality, showing a low rate of condom use. Their attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS prevention competency were positively correlated with family well-being, harmonious relations between their parents, a stable job, knowledge, life skill, and psychosocial competency for emotion control and empathy. Out-of-school adolescents are highly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection and transmission. Practical and feasible health and life skill education and psychosocial competency are the keys to effective HIV/AIDS prevention among out-of-school adolescent migrants.