Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108293

Darcy Freedman, MPH, Community Research and Action Program, Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, 615-579-0783, darcy.a.freedman@vanderbilt.edu, Linda J. Koenig, PhD, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-45, Atlanta, GA 30333, Cory Ferdon-David, PhD, Division of Violence Prevention, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway, NW, MS K-60, Atlanta, GA 30341, Pam Bachanas, PhD, Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 341 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308, Vicki J. Tepper, PhD, Pediatrics, University of Maryland, 685 W Baltimore ST, MSTF 314, Baltimore, MD 21201, Samira Brown, Mailman School of Public, Columbia University, 722 W 168th Street, New York, NY 10025, Rosalind J. Carter, PhD, Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., 40 Worth St., Room 720, New York, NY 10013, Susannah Allison, PhD, Department of Pediatric Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., MSTF-314, Baltimore, MD 21201, Stephanie Marhefka, PhD, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., Unit 29, New York, NY 10032, and Elaine J. Abrams, MD, Harlem Hospital Center, 506 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10037.

Background: An increasing number of perinatally HIV-infected children are surviving to reproductive age; we examined their knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention. Methods: Youth in the PACTS-HOPE study of perinatally HIV-infected and HIV-exposed uninfected children were recruited from 4 urban clinics. HIV knowledge was assessed with a 14-question interview. Results: Sixty-seven youth (33 HIV-infected, 95.5% Black, 58.2% female, ages 10.1 to 17.8 [mean = 12.5]) participated (NS difference by serostatus). Mean knowledge score was 77.1% (80.0% seropositive, 75.0% seronegative, p=.11). Participants <13 years scored lower than older participants (72.9% vs. 80.0%, p<.05). Overall, 97.0% understood HIV can be transmitted during unprotected sex. However, 49.3% believed there's a cure for HIV/AIDS, and that two HIV-infected individuals can have unprotected sex safely; 28.4% didn't understand the transmission risk associated with alcohol/drug use before sex. Overall, 71.6% indicated that someone spoke to them about HIV transmission; more uninfected youth reported receiving STD prevention information (88.2% vs. 57.6, p<.01). Younger participants were less likely than older participants to speak to someone about either topic (51.9% vs. 87.5%, p<.01). For HIV-infected youth, this person was most likely their doctor (HIV transmission, p<.01; STD prevention, p<.05) whereas for uninfected youth it was teachers and parents. Conclusions: HIV knowledge among HIV-infected and uninfected youth is high. Despite educational efforts, however, there are still important gaps. Age-appropriate interventions aimed at both knowledge and skills that can be delivered by healthcare providers, teachers, and parents may help youth decrease their risk of transmitting or acquiring HIV or other STDs.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Compare HIV knowledge between HIV-infected and uninfected youth.
• 2.Discuss missed opportunities for HIV education.
• 3.Review prevention approaches that focus on knowledge and behavior and that can be administered by teachers, parents, and healthcare providers.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Children and Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation