Prevalence and Predictors of Sexual Risks Among Homeless Youth
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- 作者：Linda L. Halc贸n and Alan R. Lifson
- 关键词：homeless ; youth ; adolescents ; sexual behavior
- 刊名：Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- 出版时间：2004
- 出版年：2004
- 期刊代码：29_00472891
- 类别：law
- 卷：33
- 期：1
- 页码：71-80
- 数据来源：sp
摘要
This study examined prevalence of sexual risks among homeless adolescents and described factors associated with those risks. Community-based outreach methods were used successfully to access this difficult-to-reach population. The sample included 203 homeless youth aged 15–22 recruited from community sites. Questionnaire items addressed demographics, sexual behaviors, alcohol/drug use, STI history and testing, and pregnancy history. In cross-sectional analysis, 58.7%of males and 75.6%of females reported recent sexual intercourse. Of those, one third of males and half of the females used no barrier method with at least one partner. Both gender (female) and race/ethnicity (non-Black) were associated with having intercourse without a barrier contraceptive method. Over one fifth reported a history of survival sex or receiving money, drugs, clothing, shelter, or food for sex. These results show disturbingly high rates of a number of sexual risks, reinforcing the need for targeted interventions with this highly vulnerable population.