Behavioral Risk Assessment of Urban Minority Adolescents

African-American adolescents experience a disproportionate risk of negative sexual health outcomes and tend to initiate sexual intercourse as preadolescents (ages 9-11). The purpose of the study is to examine the health perceptions and behavioral risk intentions of 159 minority adolescents (age 9-15) from two urban elementary schools, using a cross-sectional survey method. Descriptive information obtained from adolescent self-reported behaviors related to sexual activity, pregnancy, condom use, alcohol and drug use (marijuana, cocaine, sniffing glue), drug dealing and delivery, and personal risk for STD and/or HIV infection are assessed. Findings show that the respondents reported intention to use condoms (28%), to have sex (18%), to drink alcohol (14%) and to smoke cigarettes (13%). Compared to females, males were statistically more likely to “sniff glue” and “get a girl pregnant”. Male adolescents were also more likely to report intended risk behaviors than female adolescents. Logistic regression analyses reveal that sexually active youths were six times more likely than others to foresee dealing drugs in the next 6 months, nine times more likely to believe they would contract HIV, and 12 times more likely to foresee sniffing glue. Sexually active adolescents reported that they intended to continue being sexually active. Non-sexually active adolescents reported a future intent to engage in risk behaviors related to sexual activity and drug use. Data supports efforts to develop intervention programs with a focus on behavior risk reduction and to recommend comprehensive sex education programs that include culturally based and consistent content on contraception and abstinence methods.