Correlates of HIV-Related Risk Behaviors in African American Adolescents from Substance-Using Families: Patterns of Adolescent-Level Factors Associated with Sexual Experience and Substance Use

Fisher, Holly H.; Eke, Agatha N.; Cance, Jessica D.; Hawkins, Stephanie R.; Lam, Wendy K.K.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.08.006

« Previous Next »Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 42, Issue 2 , Pages 161-169, February 2008

Correlates of HIV-Related Risk Behaviors in African American Adolescents from Substance-Using Families: Patterns of Adolescent-Level Factors Associated with Sexual Experience and Substance Use

Holly H. Fisher, Ph.D.
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
- Address correspondence to: Holly H. Fisher, Ph.D., Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-37, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Agatha N. Eke, Ph.D.
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Jessica D. Cance, M.P.H.
- RTI International, Health, Social and Economics Research, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Stephanie R. Hawkins, Ph.D.
- RTI International, Health, Social and Economics Research, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Wendy K.K. Lam, Ph.D.
- RTI International, Health, Social and Economics Research, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Received 30 October 2006; accepted 31 July 2007. published online 29 November 2007.

Abstract

Purpose

To examine adolescent-level correlates of HIV-related risk behaviors among urban African American adolescents whose mothers use crack cocaine.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with 208 African American adolescents (aged 12–17 years) to assess psychosocial, behavioral, and perceived environment correlates of HIV-related risk behavior. Adolescents were children of community-recruited African American women not currently in drug treatment who reported crack cocaine use (in last 6 months). Bivariate and multivariate regression models were used to evaluate associations among adolescent-level factors, sexual experience, and substance use.

Results

Of the adolescents, 30% reported being sexually experienced, and 23% reported alcohol or drug use in the past month. Older age and lower school satisfaction were associated with both sexual experience and substance use, but no other factors were associated with both risk behaviors. Male gender, current substance use, high HIV/AIDS knowledge, and high risk perception were associated with being sexual experienced. Sexual experience and lower expectations for future life outcomes were associated with substance use. A general pattern of protective factors related to attitudes about future goals, help-seeking behavior, and positive feelings about school emerged for substance use.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the patterns of adolescent-level risk and protective factors for sexual experience and substance use may be unique in African American adolescents from substance-abusing families. Instead of an increase in problem behaviors associated with using substances, protective factors were evident, suggesting these adolescents may have resiliency for dealing with environmental stressors related to substance use. Implications for HIV prevention programs involving mentoring and goal development are discussed.

Keywords: Adolescents, African American, Crack cocaine, HIV/AIDS, Risk factors, Sexual behavior, Substance use