AIDS RISK BEHAVIORS AND CORRELATES IN TEENAGERS ATTENDING SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES CLINICS IN LOS-ANGELES

Objective-Of all age groups, teenagers have the highest rates of sexua lly transmitted diseases. Therefore, it is particularly important to t arget interventions at this group. Teenagers attending STD clinics are at particularly high risk since behaviours that lead to an STD can al so result in the transmission of HIV. The goal of this study was to co llect information concerning the prevalence and correlates of high-ris k behaviours in this population as a first step in the design of an ef fective intervention programme. Methodology-Face-to-face interviews we re conducted with patients attending five STD clinics operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Results-In the exclu sively heterosexual teenage subgroup (N = 100, 55% Hispanic, 28% Afric an-American, 10% White), males became sexually active at a younger age than females (14 years vs 14.9 years, p < 0.02), had more partners in the last 12 months (4.1 vs 2.0, p < 0.003), more ''steady'' partners (2.2 vs 1.4, p < 0.02) and more life time partners (14.1 vs. 4.1, p < 0.001). Only 10.0% of males and 3.8% of females reported consistent co ndom use with steady partners and 36% of both male and female responde nts with non-steady partners. The decision to use condoms during vagin al sex was most Likely made by the respondent, whereas the decision no t to use condoms was most Likely a joint decision. Conclusions-An inte rvention aimed at improving sexual communication regarding condom use could increase this behaviour among many adolescents, since only few t eenagers in our sample perceived condom use as unpleasant.