Juvenile detainees are a unique subset of adolescents. Confinement of these under-studied high-risk youth presents a rare opportunity to gain greater knowledge of their risk behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess sexual risk behavior in a sample of adolescent detainees. Eight hundred and sixty youth were recruited from two youth detention centers in Georgia. Following informed assent procedures with the youth, letters were sent to parents or guardians informing them of the study. Passive parental/guardian consent was used to enroll youth in the SHARP (Stop HIV and Alcohol Related Problems) project. Face-to-face baseline interviews were conducted in private settings by trained interviewers. Interviews encompassed several measures including demographics, sexual activity, condom use, and sexually transmitted disease histories. Females made up 52% of the sample, and participants ranged in age from 11 to 18 (M=15.2; SD=1.1). Fifty-four percent of the sample was black, and 38% were white. Ninety percent of the sample reported having vaginal intercourse, while 6% reported having anal intercourse. Half of the sample had vaginal sex without a condom at least once in the 30 days preceding confinement. Approximately 87% of the sample reported between 1 and 10 lifetime vaginal sex partners, with the age at first vaginal intercourse ranging from 6 to 17. Like youth attending alternative schools, adolescent detainees are engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, thus increasing their chance of HIV infection. This study documents a wide range of sexual risk behavior, and speaks to the need for comprehensive HIV interventions with these youth.
Learning Objectives: 1. To document preliminary finding of sexual risk behavior among juvenile detainees 2. To provide data supporting the need for HIV prevention interventions for confined youth
Keywords: Adolescents, Incarceration
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.