Female adolescents at high, moderate, and low risk of exposure to HIV: differences in knowledge, beliefs, and behavior.

PURPOSE: To examine differences in the beliefs and behaviors of female adolescents at varying degrees of probable risk for HIV transmission.

METHODS

A clinically-based, ethnically diverse sample of 696 sexually active female adolescents was recruited from urban and suburban general adolescent, family planning, and public health clinics. Subjects were categorized into four risk status groups on the basis of their history of IV drug use, sexually transmitted disease (STD), and probable risk of contact with an infected individual (living in a high-risk geographic location, sexual promiscuity, sex with male homo/bisexuals).

RESULTS

Females in the highest risk group showed high rates of substance use, anal intercourse, and intentions to have future risky sexual partners. A second high-risk group reported high rates of STDs, inconsistent condom use, and less AIDS knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Different subsets of higher risk adolescents may require different intervention strategies.