Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), are major health problems for adolescents, who represent over 26% of new cases of STIs diagnosed annually in the United States. Half of all HIV cases in people under age 25 result from sexual transmission during adolescence. Adolescent STI prevention is a national priority for the United States, and parents, schools, and medical providers, among others, are expected to have the greatest impact on adolescent STI risk reduction in teens.

This study used secondary Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBS) data to explore the prevalence of high school students with parent, school, and medical provider sources of HIV/STI prevention information and the associations of having these HIV/STI information sources with student STI risk behaviors. Social cognitive theory constructs guided the hypothesis that parent-delivered information would have the most protective effects.

The sample consisted of 511 Latino and non-Latino Black and White traditional public and alternative high school students. Multiple regression analyses tested models predicting student age at sexual debut, intention to have sexual intercourse, substance use at most recent sexual intercourse, condom use at most recent intercourse, and lifetime number of sexual partners.

Schools were the most prevalent source of HIV/STI prevention information. Having parent sources of HIV/STI information and emotional support offered protections against early sexual debut, sexual intentions, and substance use at most recent intercourse were associated with significantly greater condom use by Latinos. Having emotional support from teachers was protective against multiple lifetime sex partners.

School

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Jerry W. Lee

Second Advisor

Juan Carlos Belliard

Third Advisor

Susanne B. Montgomery

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Year Degree Awarded

2007

Date (Title Page)

8-2007

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

HIV Infections -- prevention & control; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Behavior; Sex Education; Health Promotion -- methods; Adolescent; Adult.

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xi; 145

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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