HIV/STD-protective benefits of living with mothers in perceived supportivefamilies: A study of high-risk African American female teens

Background. The joint influence of living with the mother in a perceived su pportive family may be an important HIV/STD-protective factor among sexuall y active female adolescents. Methods. Sexually active African American female adolescents (N = 522) comp leted a self-administered survey and structured interview. Adolescents scor ing high on family support and reporting that their mother lived with them were compared with the remaining adolescents in respect to unprotected vagi nal sex (past 30 days), sex with a non-steady partner (past 6 months), comm unication with sex partners, attitudes toward condoms, and perceived abilit y to negotiate condom use. Logistic regression analyses controlled for the influence of parent-adolescent communication about sex and parental monitor ing. Results. Adolescents residing with their mothers in a perceived supportive family were more likely to communicate with their sex partners about sexual risk (OR = 1.53). They were less likely to report sex with a non-steady pa rtner (OR = 0.51) or having unprotected sex with a steady partner (OR = 0.5 2) or any partner (OR = 0.55). Conclusions. Controlled analyses suggest that living with the mother in a p erceived supportive family is an important HIV/STD-protective factor among female adolescents. HIV/STD prevention programs for female adolescents that include the mothers may promote positive and lasting effects. (C) 2001 Ame rican Health Foundation and Academic Press.