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

Abstract #111171

Trisha E. Mueller, MPH¹, Diana Bensyl, PhD², Roy F. Oman, PhD³, Sara K. Vesely, PhD⁴, Cheryl Aspy, PhD⁵, Eleni Tolma, MPH PhD⁶, Sharon Rodine, MEd⁷, and LaDonna Marshall⁷. (1) Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K-22, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-6395, tmueller@cdc.gov, (2) Divsion of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K-22, Atlanta, GA 30341, (3) Department of Health Promotion Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, P.O. Box 26901, Rm. 369, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (4) Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, PO Box 26901, CHB, Room 309, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (5) Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 900 NE 10th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, (6) Department of Health Pormotion Sciences, Univeristy of Oklahoma, P.O.Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (7) HEART of OKC Project, Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, 420 N.W. 13th St., #101, Oklahoma City, OK 73103

Background: Reducing risky sexual behaviors among teens is important because of the health and social costs of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Youth development programs may be effective in preventing teen pregnancy. Methods: Data were collected using in-person interviews of youth (Mean age= 15.4 years; 52% female; 48% white, 23% black, 19% Hispanic, 10% Native American) and their parents (n=1277 youth/parent pairs) residing in randomly-selected inner-city households in Oklahoma City. Data were analyzed to determine if gender differences existed for attendance at religious services and: 1) sexual behaviors, 2) youth assets. Results: Females and males with at least monthly attendance at religious services were significantly less likely to report ever having had sex. Among sexually experienced youth, no significant relationship existed for contraceptive use or number of sexual partners and religious service attendance. For females, two assets were associated with at least monthly involvement at religious services: Use of Time (Groups/Sports) (Odds Ratio (OR)=2.03, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.30, 3.19) and Good Health Practices (OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.33). Males possessing the Non-Parental Adult Role Models (OR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.22), Peer Role Models (OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.08), Use of Time (Groups/Sports) (OR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.47, 3.41), and Future Aspirations (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.85) assets were more likely to report at least monthly attendance at religious services. Conclusion: Integrating and promoting youth assets in religious communities may prove successful in decreasing involvement in risky sexual behaviors. Prevention programs should consider gender-specific approaches to strengthening youth assets.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant in this session will be able to

• Identify the relationship between attendance at religious services and risky sexual behaviors among youth.
• Identify the relationship between attendance at religious services and other youth assets among males and females.
• Create informed programming to reduce involvement in risky sexual behaviors by integrating youth assets through a gender-based approach in religious communities.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexual Risk 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