Correlates of HIV-Related Risk Behaviors in African American Adolescents from Substance-Using Families: Patterns of Adolescent-Level Factors Associated with Sexual Experience and Substance Use

This study explored the association between neighborhood conditions and behavioral health among African American youth. Cross-sectional data were collected from 683 African American youth from low-income communities. Measures for demographics, neighborhood conditions (i.e. broken windows index), mental health, delinquency, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors were assessed. Major findings indicated that participants who reported poorer neighborhood conditions compared to those who lived in better living conditions were more likely to report higher rates of mental health problems, delinquency, substance use, and unsafe sexual behaviors. Environmental factors need to be considered when addressing the behavioral health of low-income African American youth.

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Racial identification, racial composition, and substance use vulnerability among African American adolescents and young adults.

Health Psychology ◽

10.1037/a0030149 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 237-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Michelle L. Stock ◽

Frederick X. Gibbons ◽

Meg Gerrard ◽

Amy E. Houlihan ◽

Chih-Yuan Weng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Young Adults ◽

African American ◽

African American Adolescents ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Racial Composition ◽

Racial Identification

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HIV infection, high-risk behaviors and substance use in homeless men sheltered in therapeutic communities in Central Brazil

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462418767188 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 29 (11) ◽

pp. 1084-1088 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sandra M Brunini ◽

Cleiciane V de Lima Barros ◽

Rafael Alves Guimarães ◽

Hélio Galdino Júnior ◽

Giovanni Rezza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

High Rate ◽

Therapeutic Communities ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Central Brazil ◽

Homeless Men

Homeless men present high vulnerability to HIV infection, mainly due to sexual risk behaviors and substance use. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection, risk behaviors and substance use in homeless men. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 481 homeless men recruited in four therapeutic communities in the Goiás State, Central Brazil. All were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and risk behaviors. Furthermore, all were tested for HIV. Poisson regression was used to verify factors associated with HIV infection. HIV prevalence was 1.24% (95.0% CI: 0.57 to 2.69%). Previous HIV testing (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]: 10.0; 95.0% CI: 1.86–55.8) and years of education (APR: 0.76; 95.0% CI: 0.60–0.97) were factors associated with HIV infection. Participants had high rates of hazardous alcohol use and illicit drug use. The prevalence of HIV infection among homeless men was higher than that found in the Brazilian male population and we identified a high rate of risk behaviors for HIV among the homeless men investigated. Thus, it is necessary to expand HIV prevention measures in Brazil, such as health education, condom availability, regular HIV testing and increased testing coverage in this population, and treatment for alcohol and/or illicit drug dependence/abuse.

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