The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #54046

Richard A. Crosby, PhD¹, Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD², Gina M. Wingood, ScD, MPH³, and Eve Rose, MPH³. (1) Emory Center for AIDS Research, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Room 542, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-712-8514, rcrosby@sph.emory.edu, (2) Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 303322, (3) Rollins School of Public Health, Dept of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322

Background: Little is known about STD risk behavior among adjudicated African-American adolescents. Goal of the Study: To compare STD-associated risk profiles of African-American adolescents reporting a history of adjudication to those not reporting adjudication. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey of 304 African-American adolescent males and females (ages 15-21 years) recruited from medical clinics and outreach activities. Significant associations were defined by 95% confidence intervals and achieving P-values of less than .05. Results: 26% reported adjudication. After adjusting for gender, adjudicated adolescents were about 3.6 and 4.5 times, respectively, more likely to report ever having one of three STDs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis) or to report having one of these in the past 90 days. Reporting recent sex with someone known or suspected of having an STD was about 9 times more likely among adjudicated adolescents. Adjudicated adolescents were about 2.6 times more likely than their non-adjudicated counterparts to report using drugs or alcohol during their last sexual experience and 2.2 times more likely to report frequent sex in the past 90 days. Conclusions: African-American adolescents with a history of adjudication may experience greater risk for acquisition of STDs when compared to their peers not reporting adjudication.

Learning Objectives:

• Audience members will be able to identify implications of the study findings for the design of program aimed at reducing STD incidence among adjudicated minority teens.
• Audience members will be able describe how STD risk behaviors may differ between adjudicated and non-adjudicated minority teens.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Minority Research

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.