Learning Objectives: African American teens, as a group, are disproportionately effected by STDs (particularly gonorrhea and syphilis) including HIV. In fact African Americans between the ages of 15-19 are nearly 25 times more likely than whites to contract gonorrhea and nearly 50 times more likely than whites to contract syphilis (CDC, 1997). In addition HIV and AIDS poses a great threat for African Americans with it being identified as the leading cause of death for 25-41 years old(CDC,1996). This reality leads to the conclusion that many African Africans have contracted HIV during adolescence. These concerns have prompted the present research to examine the multiple social contexts that influence the beliefs, decision-making strategies, and sexual risk-taking behaviors of this group. Based on a cultural ecological framework (Bronfenbrenner, 1979)a study was conducted that focused on personal, familial, and neigborhood factors that are associated with shaping adolescents beliefs and sexual practices. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors (such as depression, peer influence, poverty, neighborhood resources)and potential protective factors (such as parent process variables- parent monitoring, parent communication) that may mediate these risk factors. Using a community based sample of 210 teens, path analysis revealed that parent communication and parent monitoring significantly reduces sexual-risk taking behavior when several risk variables are present (peer influence, and decreased neighborhood resources). This research contributes to the field by highlighting the importance of examining African American sexual-risk behavior within multiple contexts (personal,familial, and neighborhood) that promote protection against risk
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexual Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.