Abstract
Sexual risk behavior in adolescence can lead to adverse health consequences, particularly for female youth. Most interventions focus on imparting knowledge about the consequences of such behaviors, even though little research has examined whether increasing such knowledge results in desired behavioral changes. Further, individual factors such as impulsivity and childhood adversity might moderate this relationship. We examined associations between HIV knowledge and sexual risk behavior and condom use efficacy in a sample of 122 at-risk females, aged 13-18. HIV knowledge was unrelated to sexual risk behavior, but positively related to condom use efficacy. Impulsivity and childhood adversity had direct effects, with no interaction effects. Increasing HIV knowledge may play an important role in promoting proximal predictors of safer sex practices.
Highlights
Sexual behavior is considered to be a normative aspect of youth development [1], engagement in sexual risk behaviors such as unprotected sexual intercourse can have adverse long-term consequences, including contraction of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies
To test our first hypothesis, we examined whether HIV knowledge was significantly associated with sexual risk behavior, accounting for the effects of age, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and impulsivity
This study examined the associations between HIV knowledge and outcomes of sexual risk behavior and condom use efficacy in a sample of female youth who were either involved with the juvenile justice system or receiving social supports through local community agencies and schools
Summary
Sexual behavior is considered to be a normative aspect of youth development [1], engagement in sexual risk behaviors such as unprotected sexual intercourse can have adverse long-term consequences, including contraction of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. Youth between the ages of 15 and 24 account for 1 in 5 new HIV infections and half of the 20 million new STIs diagnosed annually in the United States (US), even though they comprise only a quarter of the sexually active population [2]. They are the least likely age group to be aware of their HIV status [3]. Given female youths’ elevated susceptibility for HIV and STI contraction and increased risk for serious health consequences, it is important to identify risk and protective factors that can be targeted in prevention programming to improve their sexual health outcomes
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