OBJECTIVE: This study examined prospectively the associations between religiosity and the sexual behavior, attitudes and beliefs of sexually active African American female adolescents. METHODS: African American adolescent females (14-18 years of age; n=522) completed a self-administered survey and in-depth private interview at baseline and six months later. The participation rate was 85.7% at baseline and 92.2% at the 6-month follow-up. The baseline survey assessed religiosity using a 4-item scale (a=.68). Additional scales in the survey assessed the adolescent's self-efficacy to communicate with a steady partner about sexual issues (7-items, a=.82), her perceived barriers to condom use (26-items; a=.87); and whether her male partner instills fear when she negotiates condom use (7-items; a=.81). The analysis reported used the baseline religiosity measure to assess the sexual behaviors, attitudes and beliefs at the 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Adolescents who scored higher on the religiosity measure (63.4%) at baseline were more likely to have initiated sex after age 14 (AOR=1.5, p=.03) and to have used a condom the last time they had vaginal sex with their steady male partner (AOR=1.8, p=.008). Additionally these adolescents were more likely to have higher self-efficacy to communicate with a steady male partner about sexual issues (AOR=1.6, p=.02), and less likely to have perceived barriers to condom use (AOR=.65, p=.03) and experience fear in negotiating condom use (AOR=.50, p=.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of addressing protective factors such as religiosity in STD and HIV/AIDS prevention programs for adolescents.
Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants in the session will be able to: (1) Discuss recent research from a prospective HIV/AIDS prevention study regarding the association between religiosity and risky sexual behavior in African American female adolescents; (2) Discuss the association between specific sexual behaviors, including recent condom use; sexual attitudes and beliefs, including the adolescent's self-efficacy to communicate with a steady partner about sexual issues, condom use self-efficacy, and partner's attitude toward condom use; and religiosity among African American female adolescents; and (3) Discuss the importance of addressing religiosity in STD, including HIV/AIDS, prevention programs for adolescents.
Keywords: Adolescents, Risky Behaviors
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.