AEGiS-14IAC: Risk and prevention behaviors regarding to sexual transmision of HIV among teenagers(aged 14-21) living under residential care in 3 autonomous regions of Spain.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Risk and prevention behaviors regarding to sexual transmision of HIV among teenagers(aged 14-21) living under residential care in 3 autonomous regions of Spain.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. LbPeD9039)

Garcia Ruiz M, Vidal Amalia F, del Valle Ricardo D, Alvarez Oscar S, del Valle Jorge F
Consejo de la Juventud de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain

BACKGROUND: Describe risk and prevention behaviors regarding to sexual transmision of HIV among teenagers(aged 14-21) living under residential care to propose a prevention programme.

METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study in 3 autonomous regions with different prevalence levels of HIV. 329 youngsters completed a self administrated questionnaire, validated by the EASP,1997.Variables (PRECEDE model): a)sociodemographics b)dependant: condom use in the last 12 months c)intermediary: 1)Predisposing: attitudes, knowledge, locus of control, 2)Facilitators: type of partner; 3)Reinforcements: guilty feelings.

RESULTS: the average age was 15,9. 55% were males and 61.2 % were just studying. 47,7% had risky sexual relations, 31,8% of this group didn't use condom last time: 34% because of the sort of partner, 14% because of non disponibility and 12% because they used another anticonceptive method. No difference in use of condom was found related to county, nationality, gender, age or study level. The rate among people that had sexual intercourses no using protection was bigger among those who had an external locus of control than those with an internal. The part of young people considering condom as a low security method to avoid HIV transmission was bigger among those who were having sexual risk intercourses without condom, furthermore, use of condom among those considering coitus interruptus as a valid method to avoid HIV transmission was lower .69% of young people having risky sexual behaviors haven't had any guilty feelings.

CONCLUSIONS: Percentage of institutionalized teenagers using condoms is similar to the non institutionalised. There is confusion about the ways of transmission and the efficiency of condom as a prevention method. This leads to a low awareness of the risk and maintainment of risky sexual behaviors. Locus of control and guilty feelings are related with the use of condom so PRECEDE is a good model for the design of prevention programmes.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Condoms, Sex Behavior, Cross-Sectional Studies, HIV Seropositivity, Adolescent Behavior, Prevalence, Spain, Adolescent, Aged, Human, Male, Adolescence

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