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Abstract #156682

Richard Dembo, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CPR107, Tampa, FL 33620, (813) 974-9531, jac@gate.net, Steven Belenko, PhD, Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, 5th Floor Gladfelter Hall, 1115 West Berks Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, and Kristina Childs, MA, Department of Criminology, University of South Florida, 14535 Bruce B. Downs, # 2334, Tampa, FL 33613.

It has long been recognized that many youths having contact with, or entering the juvenile justice system, are experiencing multiple psychosocial and health problems. However, knowledge of the rates and correlates of their sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been limited to youths placed in secure settings–such as detention centers. Data collected in a NIDA-funded study, involving 443 female and 507 male youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center, a centralized intake facility in Tampa, Florida, between June and December 2006, enabled us to study this important public health problem among youths who entered the justice system and youths who were released back to the community. We report the results of analyses identifying subgroups of youths with varying degrees of risk of both STIs (chlamydia and gonorrhea) and drug use (based on urine testing); and examine how these groups of youths differ in their sociodemographic, offense, and risk behavior characteristics. The results: (1) highlight that youths' STIs and drug use are interrelated phenomena, (2) indicate that youths in the various risk groups reflect significant differences in their offense and risk behavior characteristics, and (3) inform the development of assessment and intervention strategies to address these serious public health problems among at-risk youths.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify specific subgroups of juvenile offenders at increased risk for sexually transmitted infections.
• Understand the relationship between drug use and risk for sexually transmitted infections among young offenders.
• Develop a plan for improving STI testing, prevention, and treatment services for drug-involved youth in the juvenile justice system.

Keywords: STD, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.