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

Abstract #55917

Darcy A Freedman, MPH¹, Laura F. Salazar, PhD¹, Richard A. Crosby, PhD², and Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD². (1) Rollins School of Public Health, Emory Univeristy, 1518 Clifton Rd. 5th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-639-6114, djf5@cdc.gov, (2) Emory Center for AIDS Research, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Room 542, Atlanta, GA 30322

Background: Identifying structural factors that facilitate or hinder safer sexual behavior among adolescents, particularly high-risk adolescents, represents an important but underutilized strategy that may have considerable impact on the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The purpose of this study was to identify, qualitatively, structural factors that may influence incarcerated adolescents’ sexual risk behaviors. Methods: In February 2002, 6 semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 28 incarcerated adolescents aged 14-19 years at three short-term regional youth detention centers in Georgia. Qualitative data were analyzed by the research team using an iterative coding process. Results: Participants provided responses that suggest HIV preventive behaviors were facilitated or impeded by four structural factors: hierarchical messages that promote both abstinence and sexual risk reduction; availability, accessibility, and acceptability of condoms; comprehensive sex education; and parental communication about sex. School, family, neighborhood, and media environments were identified as salient contexts in which to affect the relevant structural factors. Conclusions: These findings suggest incarcerated adolescents perceive structural factors as having the capacity to affect their HIV-preventive behaviors. Findings warrant expanded quantitative and interventional research efforts to better understand the import of structural factors on sexual risk reduction among high-risk adolescent populations.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify five structural factors affecting HIV-protective behaviors of incarcerated adolescents.
• Describe environments in which these structural factors may be addressed through intervention and/or policy.

Keywords: Adolescents, Incarceration

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.