Despite aggressive youth-focused messages about safe sex, HIV-infected male and female youths are twice as likely as adults to practice unsafe sex or to share needles following the diagnosis, according to researchers at the University of Washington.
The report underscores the need for more targeted safe-sex and public health campaigns to HIV-infected youth.
Most safe-sex messages are aimed at prevention among non-infected people and do not adequately address the needs of those with HIV, say the study's lead researchers, Dr. Catherine Diamond and Dr. Susan Buskin.
Evidence of risky behavior among this group included incidences of unprotected sex, needle-sharing without disinfecting, exchanging sex for money and pregnancy within six months after a positive HIV test.
The survey found that:
- Among HIV-positive girls, 66% exhibited evidence of risky behavior as compared to 46% of adult women.
- Among HIV-positive males, 28% engaged in risky behavior as compared to 16% of adult males.
The study, published in the January issue of the American Journal of Public Health, compared risky behaviors of 139 young HIV patients with those of 2,880 adult patients.
(University of Washington, Dr. Catherine Diamond, Dr. Susan Buskin, 206/543-2580)