A longitudinal study of adolescents with perinatally or transfusion acquired HIV infection: sexual knowledge, risk reduction self-efficacy and sexual behavior

• Published in: AIDS and behavior Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 471 - 478
• Main Authors: Wiener, Lori S, Battles, Haven B, Wood, Lauren V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01.05.2007
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; AIDS; Child Sexual Abuse; Condoms; Empowerment; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV-1; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Risk; Risk Reduction Behavior; Risk taking; Self Efficacy; Sex Information; Sexual Behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Teenagers; Transfusion Reaction; Young adults; United States > US
• ISSN: 1090-7165; 1573-3254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-006-9162-y

As HIV-positive children are surviving to adolescence and beyond, understanding their HIV knowledge and sexual behavior is critical. Forty HIV+ adolescents/young adults were interviewed twice, approximately 21 months apart (mean age 16.6 and 18.3 years, respectively). Data on demographics, safer sex knowledge, sexual risk behaviors, risk reduction self-efficacy, and Tanner stage were collected. Twenty-eight percent of HIV+ youth at Time 1 and 41% at Time 2 reported being sexually active. HIV transmission/safer sex knowledge was low, increased with age, and both self-efficacy for and actual condom use was relatively high. Secondary prevention messages should be incorporated into routine medical settings.