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

Abstract #110438

Kimberly West, MD, RCMI-Research Centers in Minority Institutions, Charles R. Drew University, 2594 Industrial Way, Lynwood, CA 90059, 3107614722, kwest@cdrewu.edu and Mohsen Bazargan, PhD, Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University, 12021 S. Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059.

Objective: The objective of this study is to apply the Information-Motivation-Behavioral (IMB) skills theoretical framework to examine the correlates of the intention to remain sexually inactive among Hispanic and African-American high school students. Design: Cross-sectional survey of high school students. Setting: Unified school districts in the County of Los Angeles, California. Participants: A geographically defined convenience sample of 502 Hispanic and African-American high school students. Results: Only 50% of our sample claimed that they plan to remain abstinent until they graduate from high school. Yet, 21% of them rejected the notion of abstinence, and another 29% weren't sure about future sexual activities prior to graduating from high school. Male and African-American students are less likely than their female and Latino counterparts to report an intention to remain sexually inactive. Using multinomial logistic regression and controlling for demographic characteristics, students in the study with a: 1) higher level of perceived peer pressure, 2) lower level of behavioral and refusal skills for avoiding sexual activity, 3) positive attitude toward practicing safe sex, and 4) lower level of motivation for remaining sexually inactive were less likely to claim that they will remain sexually inactive. Conclusion: Our data supports the IMB model suggesting that intervention programs focusing on knowledge alone are inconsequential in altering adolescents' intentions or behaviors regarding their decision to engage in sexual activity. Intervention programs should rather focus on encouraging youth to postpone sexual activity by reducing peer pressure and building self-efficacy through enhancing motivations and culturally appropriate behavioral skills.

Learning Objectives:

• Proportion of students planning to remain abstinent until they graduate from high school.
• Subgroups of the population who are less likely to report an intention to remain sexually inactive.
• 4 factors correlating with the intention to remain sexually inactive.

Keywords: Adolescents, Sexual Behavior

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