The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69588

Carol Goodenow, PhD, Health, Safety, and Student Support Services, Department of Education, 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, 781 338 3603, cgoodenow@doe.mass.edu

One goal of Healthy People 2010 is to increase the proportion of HIV+ people who know their serostatus but little population-based data on HIV testing among sexually active youth is available. Using the combined 1999 and 2001 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, this study examined prevalence of HIV testing among sexually active adolescents and investigated demographic, risk, and educational factors associated with HIV testing.

Results: Among 4630 sexually active adolescents, 13% of males and 18% of females had ever been tested for HIV. Black and Hispanic youth, older youth, and urban youth were more likely than their counterparts to be tested. Adolescents at higher risk levels (with more sexual partners, with any injected drug use, with no condom use at last intercourse) were more likely than lower risk youth to have been tested. Among males, those with any male partners also reported greater likelihood of testing. Finally, controlling for demographics and risk behaviors, self-reported educational experiences (having received AIDS education or a presentation by a person with HIV/AIDS) was not associated with testing for either males or females. Having talked with parents or other family adults about sexual issues was associated with greater likelihood of testing among adolescent females but not males.

Conclusions: Encouraging parents to discuss sexual risk with their daughters appears to promote testing, and educational and other interventions need to be developed to ensure that all youth engaged in sexual behavior that has put them at risk of HIV are tested.

Learning Objectives:

• The learner will be able to identify demographic predictors of HIV testing among sexually active adolescents.
• The learner will be able to discuss the relationship of levels of HIV risk behavior to probability of HIV testing among male and female sexually active youth.
• The learner will be able to discuss the association of educational and parent communication about sexual issues to HIV testing among sexually active male and female adolescents.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.