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Prevalence of HIV-related risk behaviors and STDs among incarcerated adolescents
R J Canterbury1, E L McGarvey, A E Sheldon-Keller
1Department of Psychiatric Medicine, Blue Ridge Hospital Division-Box 16, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22901, USA.
Purpose:
To determine the HIV-related risk behaviors and STDs in a population of incarcerated adolescents in order to strategically target education and prevention efforts.
Methods:
A single point-in-time prevalence study based on an analysis of intake medical records of 1,215 incarcerated youth were analyzed for HIV risk behaviors and STD history.
Results:
Incarcerated adolescents report high rates of risk behaviors for HIV infection and STDs, with 75% reporting three or more sex partners, 25% never using condoms and 19% having a current diagnosis of at least one STD. Significantly more females than males reported a history of STDs and had higher rates of current diagnoses of chlamydia/non-gonococcal urethritis, trichomonas and gonorrhea.
Conclusions:
Ethnic/racial and gender differences were found in risk behaviors for STDs among a sample of incarcerated adolescents.