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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Stevenson Fergus, MPH, School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-302-3089, ferguss@umich.edu
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) adolescents have been found, as compared to other youth, to be at particular risk of contracting HIV. The same is true of homeless adolescents. Homeless GLB youth may therefore form an especially vulnerable group, in particular need of targeted prevention interventions. This study concerns whether homeless GLB youth are at enhanced risk of HIV across a range of factors, as compared to other homeless youth, or if the conditions of being homeless render both groups equally vulnerable. This study also investigates within-group gender differences. Using survey data from 327 primarily African American homeless youth interviewed in Washington, DC, the 290 sexually active participants were categorized into four groups: males who have had sex with males, females who have had sex with females, males who have had sex only with females, and females who have had sex only with males. These groups were compared on a variety of items including sexual risk behaviors, perceived salience of the threat of HIV, drug use behaviors, and homelessness characteristics. Those youth who have had same-sex sexual experiences were found to have higher levels of sexual risk and drug use behaviors, with females who have had sex with females reporting the riskiest behaviors. One exception was that there were no differences between groups in reported frequency of use of condoms. Few differences in perceived salience of the threat of HIV or in characteristics of homelessness emerged.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.