A RISK PROFILE OF STREET YOUTH IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - IMPLICATIONS FOR GENDER-SPECIFIC HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS PREVENTION

Purpose: To assess human immunodeficiency virus (HN) risk behaviors of street youth and to determine whether risk behaviors differ by gender or housing status. Methods: Using systematic street-based sampling in four Northern California cities, we recruited 429 street youth (mean age = 19.2 years). Participants completed a structured interview which was used to assess sexual and drug HN risk behaviors. Results: The ma jority of youth were heterosexual (85%), white (77%), male (68%), and currently without any type of stable housing (75%). Although 60% of th e sample had had vaginal sex in the past 30 days, only 44% used a cond om the last time they had sex. About one-third (32%) of the sample rep orted ever injecting drugs, and almost all reported lifetime use of mu ltiple drags including D-lysergic acid diethylamide (96%), marijuana ( 90%), alcohol (81%), cocaine (70%), and speed (70%). Compared to males , females were equally likely to use injection and noninjection drugs, but were more likely to be sexually active (P < .001), were more like ly to have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (P = .00 5), and were less likely to report consistent condom use (P = .003) or intent to use condoms consistently in the future (P = .005). Compared with those with stable housing, youth who were currently without such housing reported higher rates of injection, and other drug use; femal es without stable housing were less likely to have used condoms the la st time they had vaginal intercourse. Conclusion: The high level of HI V risk behavior in this street-based sample of youth, particularly fem ales and youth without stable housing, suggests an urgent need for gen der-specific prevention efforts and an increased range of housing opti ons. (C) Society for Adolescent Medicine, 1997.