DETERMINANTS OF INTENTIONS OF JUNIOR-HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BECOME SEXUALLY ACTIVE AND USE CONDOMS - IMPLICATIONS OF REDUCTION AND PREVENTION OF AIDS RISK

The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with young adolescents' increased risk for AIDS. A multiethnic sample of 303 sev enth-grade students in three schools in the greater New York area comp leted questionnaires assessing their basic demographic characteristics (gender and ethnicity), AIDS knowledge, substance use (cigarette smok ing, alcohol use), and decision-making skills. AIDS knowledge, substan ce use, decision-making skills, gender, and ethnicity predicted intent ions to engage in sexual behavior in the future. Relevant knowledge of AIDS was associated with lower intentions to engage in sexual behavio r in the future. More frequent substance use, less frequent use of dec ision-making skills, and being male increased intentions to engage in sexual behavior in the future. Our findings are discussed in terms of their implications for education and prevention of adolescent sexual a ctivity and AIDS-risk reduction.