307391
Community trauma exposure as a predictor of substance use, sexual risk factors, and mental health outcomes among African American female adolescents involved in juvenile justice
Methods: Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month data from a prevention study involving African American female adolescents (13-17 years) recruited from a youth detention center (n=188) were used. Logistic regression examined community trauma (i.e., neighborhood crime, deviance, multiple traumatic neighborhood exposures) and its association with substance use, sexual risk, deviant peers, and PTSD at baseline. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) assessed population-averaged effects of community trauma on these same factors over time.
Results: Baseline associations revealed that 47.87% reported high community trauma exposure and co-occurring substance use (OR=4.39, 95% CI=2.12-9.09). Community trauma also was associated with deviant peers, risky partner involvement, sexual sensation seeking, unprotected sex, and PTSD at baseline (p<.05). In GEE models, baseline community trauma, with age, living situation, and study condition as covariates, significantly predicted substance use (p=0.0003), deviant peers (p<.0001), risky partner involvement (p=0.0008), sexual sensation seeking (p=0.003), unprotected sex (p=0.02), and PTSD (p=0.0008) over time.
Conclusion: Findings reinforce the impact of social determinants of health on multiple factors. Integration of health services is needed to address co-occurring substance use, sexual health, and mental health issues, particularly in high-risk environments and among vulnerable populations, such as African American adolescents involved in juvenile justice.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and culturePublic health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Identify multiple associated risk factors and behaviors among detained African American female adolescents who report experiencing community trauma.
Describe the impact of social determinants of health on multiple behavioral, sexual, and mental health factors.
Keyword(s): Vulnerable Populations, Health Promotion and Education
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI for this study and have been integrally engaged in its design, implementation and evaluation. I have been actively engaged in the current analysis and preparation of the APHA abstract.
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.