Exploring High Risk Youth's HIV-related Knowledge, Cognitions, Sexual Behavior, and Condom Use

Mollie Blair Anderson

Data is provided by the student.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study characterizes a group of high-risk youth's HIV knowledge (Brief HIV-KQ) and cognitions (maladaptive, coping appraisal, and adaptive cognitions), as well as aspects of their sexual behavior and condom use. Descriptive statistics and regressions were used to analyze archival data collected from 794 youth (46.3% male and 53.7% female) ages 16–24 (M = 18.66; SD = 1.95) who attended an educational and vocational training program in a large urban area of the Mid-South. Results indicate that these youth were twice as sexually active as the national average yet used condoms more frequently. There were gender and age differences in sexual behaviors, condom use, and HIV knowledge. Future interventions with these youth should be directed toward correcting knowledge deficits and increasing risk perception and behavioral skills acquisition.