14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. ThOrE1404)

Miller KS, Wyckoff SC, Whitaker DJ, Forehand RL, Armistead LP, Kotchick BA, Long N, Shaffer A, Murry VM, Kelly A, Jackson LC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States

BACKGROUND: Signs of sexual awareness are evident in pre-teens.

METHODS: The first 345 of 1200 pre-teens (9-12 years of age) enrolled in a longitudinal, community based, US intervention trial of families in the Southeastern US, were surveyed about sexual thoughts, intentions and behaviors.

RESULTS: When asked how many times they had thought about having sex with a boy/girl 25% (N=85) of pre-teens (mean age=10.4 years) responded at least once, with 20% of those (N=17) responding "a lot of times". Of the 85, 36% (N=31) responded "a little true" and 18% (N=15) "very true" to the statement "I would like to have sex to see what it's like". Eleven percent (N=9) responded "very true" to the statement "I think I'm ready to have sex". Examining intention to have sex, 14% (N=12) responded that they "probably will" and 7% (N=6) are "sure they will" have sex in the next year. Twenty-one percent (N=18) responded "a little true" and 11% (N=9) "very true" that they would have sex now if they had a boy/girlfriend who would do it with them. Half (N=43) currently have a boy/girlfriend, 56% (N=48) have kissed a boy/girl, and 28% (N=24) have willingly let a boy or girl put their hands under their clothes, or willingly put their hands under a boy's/girl's clothes. Eighteen percent (N=15) have ever willingly touched a boy's or girl's private parts, or ever let a boy/girl touch their private parts. Two percent (N=2) have received or given oral sex and 6% (N=5) have willingly engaged in penile-vaginal intercourse.

CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of pre-teens surveyed show signs of sexual readiness, suggesting that HIV-prevention efforts should start before the teen years.

020707
ThOrE1404

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