RISK FACTORS FOR HIV INFECTION IN RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS ADOLESCENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO (IMMUNE DEFICIENCY).
Contributors: University of California, San Francisco.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 135
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.; Health Sciences, Public Health.; Psychology, Clinical.
Description: This study was designed to examine historical and environmental risk factors for HIV in homeless and runaway adolescents. The study sample was comprised of 66 gay, bisexual, transgender and "questioning" male adolescents who were tested for HIV in 1993 and 1994 at two clinics for homeless and runaway youth in San Francisco. Subjects were age 15 to 21, with a mean age of 18.6. The research design was a case-control study with 22 HIV positive cases and 44 randomly selected HIV negative controls. Data were collected by review of existing medical record forms. Significant differences (p $<$ 0.05) were seen between the cases and the controls on variables which measured having been voluntarily sexually active for more than 6 years, self-identifying as gay (as compared to identifying as bisexual, transgender, or questioning), history of depression, allergies to medications, and history of asthma. Significant differences were seen at the p $<$ 0.10 level for current use of cocaine, history of being in treatment, having a recent life change, and involvement in a community organization. Using logistic regression modeling, the two best predictors of HIV status in this sample were number of years voluntarily sexually active (odds ratio = 1.32) and self-identifying as gay (odds ratio = 5.37). As a whole, the sample reported high incidence of drug use, history of sexual abuse and physical abuse, and needle use. The data show that runaway and homeless adolescent males engage in multiple risky activities which may lead to HIV infection. These findings underscore the importance of candid discussions between providers and adolescents in the clinical setting regarding risk factors for HIV. The findings also support the need for developing, testing, and implementing interventions to prevent HIV in this population.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-08, Section: B, page: 4243.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, 1995.

School code: 0034.