238414 Association between parent communication about sex and sexual health behaviors among African-American adolescents

Monday, October 31, 2011: 10:50 AM

Lorin S. Boyce, MA , Behavioral Sciences Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Teaniese L. Davis, MPH , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Jessica Sales, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Jennifer L. Brown, PhD , Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Eve Rose, MSPH , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health and Center for AIDS Research, Emory Univeristy, Atlanta, GA
BACKGROUND: African-American adolescent females are disproportionately affected by the STD and HIV epidemics. Research indicates mixed findings regarding the extent that parental communication about sex impacts risky behavior among adolescents. Indeed, some studies have observed no positive impact, while others indicate that greater communication is associated with delaying sexual debut and increased responsible sexual behaviors. The aim of this study was to determine if parent-adolescent communication frequency about sex impacts sexual health behaviors among African-American females who live in households with both mother and father or mother only.

METHODS: 410 African-American adolescent females (14-20 years old; Mean age = 17.2 years, SD=1.64) completed an ACASI as part of an STD/HIV prevention program including demographic, communication, social support, condom use, and HIV testing measures. Parent-adolescent communication frequency, the primary outcome, was determined by a median split comparing low (5-14) and high (15-20) scores.

RESULTS: 52.4% (n=215) had high while 47.6% (n=195) had low parent-adolescent communication frequency. In a logistic regression, controlling for age, high parent-adolescent sexual communication frequency was associated with receiving an HIV test (AOR=1.69, p=.008), high familial social support (AOR=3.42, p=.001), and consistent condom use (AOR=1.66, p=.023).

CONCLUSION: Participants reporting more frequent communication with parents about sex were less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. The impact of parent communication about sex on adolescents' sexual health behavior requires further attention. Next steps include gaining a better understanding of the content and quality of parent-adolescent sexual communication and developing family-based interventions to promote positive parent-adolescent communication about sexuality.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Program planning
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain prevalence of parent-adolescent sexual communication among a clinic-based sample of African American adolescent females. 2. Discuss the implications of parent-adolescent communication about sex on adolescents' sexual behavior

Keywords: Adolescents, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I made significant contributions to the data analysis in this manuscript. I have worked with this study since its inception.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: HIV/AIDS & Young People
See more of: HIV/AIDS