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The Context of HIV Risk Among Drug Users and Their Sexual Partners

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higher rates <strong>of</strong> <strong>HIV</strong>/AIDS in adolescents than those currently<br />

reported are probable;<br />

males who engage in sexual intercourse with other males, as well as<br />

African-American <strong>and</strong> Hispanic youth, are over-represented among<br />

teens with AIDS relative to their proportion in the population;<br />

given the high rates <strong>of</strong> pregnancy in teens, higher rates <strong>of</strong> perinatal<br />

<strong>HIV</strong> transmission are likely to occur in teen mothers; <strong>and</strong><br />

peers <strong>and</strong> family play an important role in determining adolescents’<br />

decisions to engage in risk-taking behaviors. Together, these factors<br />

must be taken into account when planning strategies to prevent<br />

further spread <strong>of</strong> STDs/<strong>HIV</strong> infection in adolescents.<br />

CONCLUSIONS<br />

Currently, AIDS in adolescents is rare; however, many more teens are<br />

thought to be <strong>HIV</strong>-infected given the long latency period between<br />

infection <strong>and</strong> manifestation <strong>of</strong> disease. Teenagers are at increased risk for<br />

<strong>HIV</strong> transmission because many <strong>of</strong> them engage in sexual <strong>and</strong> substance<br />

use behaviors; they are initiating sexual intercourse at younger ages than<br />

ever before; many <strong>of</strong> them have multiple sexual partners; <strong>and</strong> some use<br />

substances that may directly or indirectly place them at risk <strong>of</strong> exposure<br />

to STDs/<strong>HIV</strong> infection. In addition, many teens do not consistently use<br />

condoms when engaging in sexual intercourse.<br />

To prevent further spread <strong>of</strong> sexually transmitted infections, prevention<br />

programs that emphasize cognitive <strong>and</strong> behavioral skills-building are<br />

necessary (B<strong>and</strong>ura 1992; Boyer <strong>and</strong> Kegeles 1991). Such programs<br />

should be theory based <strong>and</strong> must take into account the risk behaviors <strong>and</strong><br />

their associated antecedents. To be most effective, these programs should<br />

include a variety <strong>of</strong> educational <strong>and</strong> communication strategies that may<br />

differ depending on the target population <strong>and</strong> the site where they are to be<br />

implemented. Finally, although current research has begun to elucidate<br />

the mechanisms by which adolescents make health decisions <strong>and</strong><br />

subsequently engage in health-promoting or health-damaging behaviors,<br />

more research is critically needed.<br />

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