Relationship Between Detained African-American Adolescent Females' Perceived Life Chances and HIV-Associated Sexual Risk Behaviors

Background: Females are currently the fastest growing population of incarcerated adolescents. While adolescents are known for being risk-takers, research indicates that female detainees report a high prevalence of family dysfunction, trauma, sexual abuse, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors. Collectively, these negative outcomes are thought to influence an adolescent's perception of life chances. This analysis will investigate the relationship between perceived life chances and HIV-associated sexual risk behaviors.

Methods: Data inclusive of sociodemographics, psychosocial mediators, perceived life chances and self-reported sexual behaviors were collected via ACASI from 89 African-American adolescent females (ages 13 - 17) recently detained in a juvenile detention facility in Georgia. Data were obtained at baseline, prior to randomization and participation in an HIV risk-reduction intervention. Data analysis investigated group differences in sexual risk behavior among adolescents with high and low perceived life chances.

Results: Adolescents with lower perceived life chances were less likely to use a condom to prevent STDs or pregnancy at last sex (p=.01), more likely to report a prior STD (p=.04), and were more likely to have ever used marijuana (p=.03) than those adolescents with higher perceived life chances.

Conclusion: HIV-associated sexual risk behaviors among African-American detained adolescents were found to be associated with low perceived life chances. Preventive interventions targeting detained youth may be more effective in promoting behavior change by incorporating skill based activities such as goal setting, planning for the future and career counseling.