African American adolescents intentions to have sex: the influences of youth assets and knowledge of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors

Abstract

ABSTRACT This cross-sectional study sought to identify factors associated with sexual intentions among a sample of 252 African American high school adolescents who participated in a teen pregnancy prevention program in a large urban city. Participants completed surveys that included measures of youth assets and knowledge of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors. A series of data analyses included descriptive statistical analyses, t-tests, chi-square, and ordinal regression. Study results demonstrate that older age, male gender, and lower levels of youth assets predicted intentions to have sex in the future. Findings also suggest youth assets may serve as a protective factor against the transmission of HIV for African American adolescents in the context of theory regarding intentions to have sex. Surprisingly, more accurate knowledge about HIV-related sexual risk behaviors was associated with intentions to engage in sexual intercourse within the next six months, calling into question subjects’ confidence in or perceived self-efficacy about safely engaging in sexual activity.