4292.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - Board 6

Abstract #20514

HIV prevention benefits of living with mothers in supportive families: A prospective analysis of protective factors among African-American adolescent females

Richard A Crosby, PhD1, Ralph J DiClemente, PhD1, Gina M Wingood, ScD, MPH1, Donna Hubbard McCree, PhD2, Adrian Liau, PhD2, Kim M Williams, PhD, MSW2, Kathleen F Harrington, MPH3, and Susan Davies, PhD4. (1) Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, fifth floor, Atlanta, GA 30322, 770 982 7527, rcrosby@sph.emory.edu, (2) Rollins School of Public Health Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, (3) Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, 1720 University Blvd., EFH - 327, Birmingham, AL 35233-0009, (4) Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1665 Unversity Blvd., Suite 410, Birmingham, AL 35294

Objective: To prospectively assess whether the joint influence of living with the mother in a supportive family is an important HIV/STD-protective factor for African-American adolescent females. Methods: African-American females 14-18 years of age were recruited from schools and health clinics. Adolescents completed a survey and interview, at baseline and again 6 months later. Family support was assessed by a scale with high reliability (alpha=.86). Resulting scores were dichotomized by performing a median split. Adolescents scoring high on family support and reporting their mother lived with them were compared to the remaining adolescents in respect to HIV/STD protective factors assessed 6 months later. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR). Results: The study achieved an 85.7% baseline participation rate (N=522) and 92% (N=482) returned at 6-month follow-up. Compared to adolescents residing with their mothers in a supportive family (46%), remaining adolescents (54%) were more likely to report: infrequently communicating with their sex partners about sexual risk (AOR=1.84, P<.001), infrequently communicating with their parents about sexual risk (AOR=2.65, P<.00001), low condom negotiation self-efficacy (AOR=1.70, P<.01), high fear of condom use negotiation (AOR=1.74, P<.01), greater partner-related barriers to safer sex (AOR=1.63, P<.01), recent emotional abuse by a sex partner (AOR=2.59, P<.01), not using a condom during last intercourse with steady partners (AOR=1.77, P<.02) or during the past month with steady partners (AOR=2.65, P<.004). Discussion: Controlled, prospective, analyses suggest that multiple HIV/STD prevention benefits may be associated with adolescent females' residence with their mothers in a supportive family environment.

Learning Objectives: Audience members will be able to identify and explain the importance of the observed protective outcomes for adolescent females living with their mothers in the context of a supportive family environment.

Keywords: Family Involvement, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA