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

Abstract #116716

Sally J. Stevens, PhD, Bridget S. Ruiz, BA; LISAC, Christine B. Wiggs, MPH, and Kristina Luther, BA. Southwest Institute for Research on Women, University of Arizona, Po Box 210025, Tucson, AZ 85721, 520-626-9558, sstevens@dakotacom.net

With increase in the number of adolescents becoming infected with HIV, particularly minority adolescents, research on social and cultural values and beliefs that may influence risk taking behaviors is needed. This presentation explores gender differences in social norms among Latino adolescents at risk for HIV and substance abuse. Data for this presentation were obtained from 235 youth who participated in the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) located in Tucson, Arizona. YEP is an interactive HIV and substance use prevention action research project service targeting youth ages 13-17 years who are enrolled in two alternative “second chance” high schools. Eighty percent of the youth participating in YEP are Latino(a) and 51% are female. Baseline data indicate gender differences in social norms including perceptions of gender roles and responsibilities of males and females. Follow up data at 6- and 12-months post baseline are examined for difference in HIV risk behaviors and substance use grouped by cumulative score on the social norm index. Interpretation of the findings is discussed in the context of adolescents social norms as they relate to Latino adolescents and implications for future interventions and research needs.

Learning Objectives:

• The participant will learn about drug and sexual risks specific to at-risk Latina/o adolescent including gender differences in risky behavior.
• The participant will gain understanding with regard to social norms and roles, with consideration of culture and gender, of at-risk Latina/o adolescents along with gender differences that impact those risks.
• The participant will become knowledgeable about theory driven interventions and intervention methods that are acceptable to at-risk Latina/o youth and which are culturally and gender specific.
• The participant will learn about HIV drug and sex risk behavior change for male and female at-risk Latina/o adolescents and explore possible reasons for the observed changes and differences in behavior change between male and female participants.

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