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STD Risk Behaviors of Incarcerated Youth

STD Risk Behaviors of Incarcerated Youth. Angela Robertson and Connie Baird-Thomas Mississippi State University. This work was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse grant DA 14695. Purpose of the Study.

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STD Risk Behaviors of Incarcerated Youth

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  1. STD Risk Behaviors of Incarcerated Youth Angela Robertson and Connie Baird-Thomas Mississippi State University This work was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse grant DA 14695.

  2. Purpose of the Study • To screen incarcerated juveniles for two common sexually transmitted diseases as biomarkers of HIV risk • To identify predictors of STD infection using a multi-system perspective • To examine gender differences in STD/HIV risk

  3. Background • Incarcerated adolescents are at high risk for HIV because they engage in risk behaviors at higher rates and at earlier ages than adolescents in the general population. • Significant rates of STD infections have been documented.

  4. Methods • 1,816 juvenile detainees were screened for chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) between April 2002 and May 2003. • 816 who met inclusion criteria were approached and 763 (94%) completed a self-administered survey using audio-CASI technology. • 690 (90%) gave permission for the project to link their STD test results with survey responses. • Results presented here are based on 681 youth (249 females and 432 males) with complete data.

  5. Survey Sample

  6. A Multi-System Perspectivefor Adolescent Sexual Behavior • Self System: biological, psychological, and behavioral factors • Family System: family structure and family process variables • Extra-familial System: peer, school, and neighborhood influences Kotchick, Shaffer, Forehand, and Miller (2001)

  7. Potential Predictors of STD Positivity

  8. Results: Infection Rates • STD test results available on 1,789 detainees • 231 or 12.9% for chlamydia; 8.1% of males and 24.7% of females • 57 or 3.2% for gonorrhea; 1.5% of males and 7.3% of females 17.5% of survey participants tested positive for either CT or GC; 27.7% of females and 11.6% of males

  9. Predictors of STD Infection for Total Sample + p< .10, * p< .05, ** p< .01, *** p< .001

  10. Predictors for Females Detainees + p< .10, * p< .05, ** p< .01, *** p< .001

  11. Predictors for Males Detainees + p< .10, * p< .05, ** p< .01, *** p< .001

  12. Limitations Generalization: • Results can not be generalized to all incarcerated youth as 90% of youth detained in the facility and participating in study were African American Veracity of self report: • 49 out of 246 (19.9%) of youth reporting 100% condom-protected vaginal intercourse tested positive for CT or GC • 31 out of 282 (11.0%) of youth reporting that they abstained from vaginal intercourse during the three months prior to incarceration tested positive

  13. Conclusions Rates of undiagnosed CT and GC are high in incarcerated youth. A multi-system approach is useful for identifying potential risk/protective factors. Biological factors (gender and age) account for almost half (47%) of the total explained variance; youth behavior accounts for 33.5%. Yet family factors are also relevant for adolescent STD risk. Predictors vary by gender. Alcohol use and AOD expectations are associated with STD positivity.

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