The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50645

Tina Hoff¹, Julia Davis², and Liberty Greene, MS². (1) Vice President, Public Health Information and Partnerships, Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, (2) Public Health Information and Partnerships, Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025

A national survey of 13-to 24-year olds conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation explores youth sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in order to help inform their public education efforts. The survey finds that pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases rank high on the list of issues young people say are big concerns to their peers and themselves, but many do not fully understand their risk or methods of prevention. While they report hearing about sexual health from a variety of sources, many say they want to learn more in order to make informed choices and decisions.

Many young people feel they know a lot about STDs, but misperceptions still exist about how they can and cannot be spread—and few are aware of the long-term health consequences. They also express some confusion about safer sex and contraception including the more than one in five who believe birth control pills are effective in preventing HIV/AIDS and other STDs. The survey also looks at their experiences including their communication with partners, physicians, their contraceptive choices, and HIV and STD testing.

Data for this analysis come from a nationally representative telephone survey of more than 1200 youth ages 13 to 24. The survey includes questions on a broad range of sexual health issues including knowledge and attitudes on HIV/AIDS and other STDs, condoms and other birth control methods, safer sex, and the link between substance use and sexual decision-making. Youth ages 15 to 24 were also asked about their personal behaviors and experiences involving sexual activity, contraceptive choices, and HIV and STD testing.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Describe several commonly held misperceptions among adolescents and young adults in relation to safer sex, contraception, and HIV/AIDS and other STDs.
• 2.Discuss the issues youth identify as major concerns to themselves and their peers, their sources for sexual health information, and the topics they would like to learn more about.
• 3.Describe the HIV and STD testing behaviors of youth as well as the barriers they say are keeping them from getting tested.

Keywords: STD, Adolescent Health

Related Web page: www.kff.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Kaiser Family Foundation
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employer