Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between parent-child communication about sexuality-related issues and adolescents' sexual risk behaviors, their sexual communication self-efficacy, and actual communication with sex partners about pregnancy and STD/HIV prevention. Methods: Sexually active African American adolescent females (N=522) completed a self-administered survey and in-depth private interview. The survey included a scale assessing the frequency of parent-child communication about sexuality, STDs and HIV (alpha=0.88). Additionally, the survey assessed adolescents' sexual communication self-efficacy and their actual communication with sex partners about sex, STDs and HIV prevention. The interview assessed adolescents' STD/HIV-associated sexual behaviors. Results: In multivariate analyses, controlling for observed covariates, adolescents with lower Parent-Child Sexual Communication scores were significantly more likely to never use condoms during the past 30 days (OR=1.6, p=.02), to not use a condom at the most recent sexual intercourse (OR=1.7, p=.02), and were less likely to use contraception in the past 6 months (OR=1.7, p=.06). Additionally, they were markedly less likely to communicate with their current sex partner about pregnancy and STD/HIV prevention(OR=3.3, p=.00001) and have lower self-efficacy to discuss sexuality-related issues and STD/HIV prevention with sex partners (OR=1.8, p=.002). Conclusion: Parent-child communication about sex, STDs and HIV may be a critical factor associated with adolescents' pregnancy and STD/HIV-protective behaviors, their self-efficacy to communicate with sex partners and likelihood of discussing these issues with sex partners. Developing STD/HIV and pregnancy prevention programs that target enhancing parent-child communication may be an important risk-reduction strategy.
Learning Objectives: "At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: (1) describe the link between parent-child communication about sexuality and STD/HIV and adolescents' risk behaviors (2) describe potential family-based interventions designed to enhance parent-child communication about sexuality and STD/HIV
Keywords: Adolescents, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.