Sexual Health Information Networks: What are Urban African American Youth Learning?

Abstract

This qualitative study examined sexual health information networks among urban African American youth living in low-income communities. The authors identified sources, message content, and utility of messages about sex and sexual health in a sample of 15–17-year olds (N = 81). Youth received sexual health information from a variety of sources. Messages from parents and sex education had high utility, whereas messages from the Internet and religion had low utility. Four information network patterns were identified, suggesting considerable variation in how youth are socialized regarding sex. Findings suggest that sexual information networks have the potential to affect sexual health and development.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Grant Number R01 HD061027-01, awarded to M. Margaret Dolcini. The authors thank Lauren Fontanarosa, Senna Towner, and Marcia Macomber for their contributions to the work on this manuscript, and Eli Anderson for his consultation on the project. The authors also thank the community-based organizations and youth participants who shared their time and perspectives to this research.