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

Abstract #116461

Wendy K.K. Lam, PhD¹, Rachel M. Ellerson, BS², William A. Zule, DrPH¹, Shelley Francis, MPH¹, and Wendee M. Wechsberg, PhD¹. (1) Substance Abuse Treatment Interventions and Evaluations, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, 919-485-5603, kklam@rti.org, (2) Substance Abuse Treatment Interventions and Evaulations, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194

African-American women who abuse drugs face challenges that increase not only their own HIV risk, but also their children's risk. Children who live with drug-abusing parents are more likely than other children to experience problem behaviors, including substance use and early sexual activity. Despite the strong influence of family on youth risk, few studies have examined caregiving contexts created by maternal drug users or gender differences in their children's risk. Data are presented from two samples: a) African-American mothers (n=635) who abused crack but were not receiving treatment and participated in an HIV prevention study, and b) 12-17 year old children and their African-American mothers who have used crack (n=203 dyads). On average, youth are 14.1 years old; 59% are females. Women are 35.8 years old, and have 2.5 dependent children. In the past month, mothers reported using crack an average 11.5 days and 23% had traded sex. Logistic regression found that mothers separated from their children were significantly more likely than mothers living with their children to be older, to report childhood physical abuse, to trade sex more frequently, to be homeless, and to have no health insurance. Over one-third of youth had used cigarettes, alcohol or marijuana; 29% used substances in the past month. Overall, 31% are sexually experienced, with more boys reporting having had sex. Given the need to educate women and girls about how to protect themselves, the family context may be a prime vehicle through which to communicate HIV prevention skills and information.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe caregiving contexts created by African-American mothers who use crack cocaine.
• To learn about drug and sexual risks among adolescent children of African-American mothers who use crack, and youth gender differences in risk behaviors.
• To gain understanding of potential family factors that may influence gender differences in risk.

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