Anal intercourse and knowledge of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among minority-group female adolescents

Abstract

Adolescent minority group females experience of anal intercourse and knowledge about and attitudes toward AIDS have been investigated. A questionnaire survey was administered to 148 largely black and Hispanic female patients at an adolescent health center. 111 of the girls reported that they were sexually active. 28 girls (25.2%) acknowledged having had anal sex, 19 of them within the preceding 3 months. Condoms were far less likely to be used during anal intercourse than during vaginal sex. Accurate knowledge about AIDS increased with age, but there was no relationship between age and any change in sexual behavior to avoid the disease. What little changes in sexual behavior reported were, however, strongly linked to fear of contracting AIDS. The most effective means of HIV transmission from males to females is through anal intercourse. Given the high incidence of anal intercourse practice by black and Hispanic females, their infrequent use of condoms during anal intercourse, and a large and increasing HIV infection rate among black and Hispanic males, it can be seen that adolescent minority group females are at increasing risk of heterosexual exposure to HIV infection. Lack of relationship between knowledge about AIDS and reduction of high-risk sexual behavior are discouraging to hopes of disease prevention through educational efforts.