Purpose: To identify differences in sexual risk behaviors between African American female adolescents to participating in a risk reduction intervention based on site of recruitment: public high school health education classes vs. adolescent and health department clinics. Methods: 418 of 522 participants in this intervention, known to be recruited from schools or clinics, completed a baseline survey and interview and provided biological specimens revealing history of STDs, pregnancy and sexual behaviors (# of coitions and % with condom in previous 6 months), and current STD status. A t-test examined group means for % coitions with condoms and # of coitions. Pregnancy and STD histories and current STD status were analyzed with logistic regression. Results: No significant differences were seen between the 143 girls recruited at clinics and the 275 girls recruited from schools for: STD status at study entry (29.4% vs. 26.9%; p=.594), # of coitions during the past 6 months (x=11.0 vs 8.65; p=.236), or % coitions with condoms (x=.69 vs. .72, p=.420). However, a significant difference was noted for self-reported histories of pregnancy (OR=1.56, p=.033) and STDs (OR=1.83, p=.008). Conclusions: As recruitment from schools is significantly less expensive, can provide a representative sample and allows for quick recruitment of large numbers, interventionists may want to consider this option for future studies where current sexual behavior is of most interest. However, higher rates of past pregnancies and STDs may indicate some factor which influences sexual behaviors and requires further study.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will be able to: 1) describe two methods of recruitment for an HIV/STD risk reduction intervention; 2) articulate similarities and differences of risk behaviors for samples drawn from two differing recruitment sites; and 3) evaluate a best recruitment site for type of sexual risk reduction intervention
Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by grant funding this project.