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Challenge of Changing Drug and Sex Risk Behaviors of Runaway and Homeless Adolescents

NCJ Number
180004
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 23 Issue: 12 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 1295-1306
Author(s)
Robert E. Booth; Yiming Zhang; Carol F. Kwiatkowski
Date Published
1999
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article assesses HIV-related drug and sex risk behaviors and evaluates factors associated with change in risk behaviors among runaway and homeless adolescents.
Abstract
Approximately half of 244 street youths recruited from a community drop-in center received training in a peer-based intervention that included principles derived from the health belief model, while the remaining subjects received no intervention. Compared to youths in the control condition, runaways receiving the intervention significantly increased their knowledge about HIV. Contrary to the health belief model, in multivariate analyses knowledge and greater perceived chance for HIV were associated with high-risk behavior. On the other hand, lower concern about HIV infection was also associated with high-risk behavior, supporting the health belief model. Despite the intervention's success in increasing knowledge of HIV and AIDS, the association between knowledge, perceived likelihood of infection and high-risk behaviors suggests that, without other alternatives, runaways will continue their risks. Figures, tables, references