Predictors of Sexual Behavior Among Early and Middle Adolescents Affected by Maternal HIV

ABSTRACT

The impact of maternal HIV and family variables on sexual behaviors of early and middle adolescents was investigated. Data were collected from 118 pairs of HIV-positive mothers and their uninfected early/middle adolescents across four time points. Descriptive analyses show the prevalence of sexual behaviors in this sample was significantly lower than rates in a comparable sample of adolescents who participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Multivariate longitudinal analysis using generalized estimating equation logistic regression showed adolescent sexual behavior was more likely to occur with adolescent alcohol use, lack of parental monitoring, and poorer physical functioning of HIV-positive mothers.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• adolescent
• risk taking
• sexual behavior

This research was supported by Grant Number 5R01MH057207 from the National Institute of Mental Health to the first author.

Notes

^aThe sexual behavior measure is summarized into four categories: no sexual behavior, holding hands/kissing, sexual touching/oral sex, and sexual intercourse. Vaginal and anal intercourse were not differentiated in the measure. Responses above are not inclusive of higher-level responses (for example, although responding “yes” to sexual intercourse would naturally be inclusive of sexual touching, it is not reflected in the reported percentages).

^aAnalyses reflect a dichotomous outcome: no sexual activity/presexual behaviors (none, holding hands/kissing) versus sexual behaviors (sexual touching/oral sex, sexual intercourse).

^bCD4 and Viral Load only available for baseline and 12-month follow-up.

^aAnalyses reflect a dichotomous outcome: no sexual activity/presexual behaviors (none, holding hands/kissing) versus sexual behaviors (sexual touching/oral sex, sexual intercourse).