Sexual behaviors and procreational intentions of adolescents and young adults with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection: experience of an urban tertiary center.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
To assess sexual knowledge, behaviors, and procreational intentions of adolescents and young adults with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (PNA HIV) infection. Increasingly, children with PNA HIV infection survive to adolescence and become sexually active. Understanding their procreational intentions could aid in designing reproductive health and secondary prevention programs.

METHODS:
A cross-sectional survey of adolescents and young adults with PNA HIV infection at an urban tertiary center was conducted. From June 2003 through September 2004, participants completed a questionnaire that inquired about their sexual knowledge and behaviors. Participants aware of their diagnoses also completed items regarding procreational intentions.

RESULTS:
Seventy-four percent (57/77) of eligible participants completed the survey. Thirty-three percent (19/57) of participants reported having had penile-vaginal intercourse, 89.4% of them after learning of their HIV status. Fifty percent (5/10) of sexually active female participants had been pregnant. Among the 50 participants who were aware of their diagnosis, 70% (n = 35) expressed intent to have children. A majority of those aware of the risk of maternal-to-child transmission (MTCT) (71.1%) expressed intent to procreate. Participants who perceived MTCT as low were more likely to express intent to procreate than those who perceived the risk of MTCT as high.

CONCLUSIONS:
Adolescents with PNA HIV infection are becoming sexually active and express intent to have children. This has important implications for secondary prevention of HIV infection. These adolescents need innovative intervention programs offering reproductive health education including procreational choices and considerations.

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Author information

Author/s: Ezeanolue, Echezona E (EE); Wodi, A Patricia (AP); Patel, Rakesh (R); Dieudonne, Arry (A); Oleske, James M (JM);

Affiliation: Division of Pulmonology, Allergy Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA. chinny76(-atsign-)hotmail.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine (J Adolesc Health), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jun; vol 38 (issue 6) : pp 719-25

Dates: Created 2006/05/29; Completed 2006/06/12; Revised 2007/12/05;

PMID: 16730601, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Decision Making
Female
HIV Infections - prevention & control; psychology; transmission
Health Behavior

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Patient Education as Topic
Reproduction
Sexual Behavior
Urban Population

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