This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
HIV, STI intervention for teens on probation reduces sexual risk behaviorsNews Article
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Providing an intervention intended to prevent HIV, STIs, substance use and mental health concerns to youth placed on probation can reduce sexual risk behaviors in juvenile offenders, according to findings published in Health Psychology.
“A number of factors contribute to young offenders’ increased risk for HIV. Many of these youths experience a host of structural factors that lead to mental health problems and substance use such as poverty, crime and neighborhood disadvantages,” Geri R. Donenberg, PhD, professor in the departments of medicine and psychology at the University of Illinois, Chicago, told Infectious Diseases in Children. “Ample evidence links mental health problems and substance use with high-risk sexual behavior.”
To determine the efficacy of Preventing HIV/AIDS Among Teens (PHAT Life), the researchers conducted a two-arm group randomized controlled trial in which the intervention was compared with a time-matched health promotion program. All participants were between the ages of 13 and 17 years and were newly arrested and placed on probation.
The majority of the participants completed the intervention (85%). Males encompassed 66% of the cohort, and 90% of participants were black. Participants provided a self-report of sexual behaviors, including condom use and number of partners upon inclusion and after 6 months.
Of the 163 adolescents randomized to PHAT Life, teens were at least four times more likely to report lower sexual risk levels at 6 months (no sex or one partner plus consistent condom use) than the control group when they were at high-risk at baseline (multiple partners and inconsistent condom use; OR = 4.28; 95% CI, 1.37-13.38; SE = 0.58; P = .01). Those who were sexually active before 12 years of age and were randomized to PHAT Life self-reported fewer sexual partners at 6 months than those placed in the control group (partial η2 = .32; 95% CI, .05-.54; P = .002).
“Pediatricians can play a critical role in the lives of adolescents and reducing exposure to HIV and STI,” Donenberg said. “In fact, pediatricians — many of whom have known the teens since they were young children — have an opportunity to capitalize on their relationship with teens to support safer sexual behavior. I would argue that pediatricians have an obligation to know and ask teens about their sexual activity and help them plan for prevention beyond simply using a condom.”
“Using a more holistic approach to HIV prevention that addresses mental health, substance use, sexual risk, healthy relationships and risk triggers, pediatricians can influence adolescent behavior,” she continued. “I also strongly believe that parents are effective partners in prevention, and pediatricians have access to parents in ways that most health care providers do not. Pediatricians could engage parents to help deliver prevention methods.” – by Katherine Bortz
Disclosures: Infectious Diseases in Children was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts