Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center of Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Coro West Bldg, Ste 204, 1 Hoppin St, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
J Natl Med Assoc. 2010 Dec;102(12):1173-82. doi: 10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30772-0.
Although many factors contribute to racial disparities in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS among young African Americans, knowledge is a particularly modifiable factor. However, little information has been published about the current HIV knowledge of African American teens or to what extent knowledge independently contributes to their sexual behavior and health. This study aimed to describe the level of knowledge among this at-risk population and determine whether knowledge contributes to variance in sexual behavior and health beyond that of sociodemographic and psychological factors.
African American adolescents (n = 1658) were recruited in 2 northeastern and 2 southeastern US cities (74% eligible for free or reduced-price school lunch). Analyses utilized data gathered from adolescents using an audio computer-assisted self-interview program.
On average, participants answered only 50% of HIV knowledge items correctly and were least accurate concerning effective condom use and HIV testing. Controlling tor associated sociodemographic and psychological factors, greater knowledge was associated with sexual experience and, among experienced adolescents, with sexually transmitted infection/HIV testing and--unexpectedly--less condom use.
HIV knowledge, which is modifiable, is limited among at-risk African American adolescents and is an important contributor to sexual behavior and health. Findings indicate a need for more comprehensive HIV/AIDS education, particularly with regard to condom use and the benefits of routine sexually transmitted infection/HIV testing. Although knowledge might not be sufficiently protective in and of itself, having accurate information about HIV may benefit sexual health by impacting health-promoting attitudes necessary for successful engagement in health care-seeking behavior.
尽管许多因素导致年轻非裔美国人中艾滋病毒/艾滋病存在种族差异，但知识是一个特别可改变的因素。然而，关于非裔美国青少年目前的艾滋病毒知识，或者知识在多大程度上独立影响他们的性行为和健康，发表的信息很少。本研究旨在描述这一高危人群的知识水平，并确定知识是否除了社会人口和心理因素之外，还能对性行为和健康的差异做出贡献。
在 2 个美国东北部城市和 2 个东南部城市招募了非裔美国青少年（n=1658）（74%有资格享受免费或减价校餐）。分析使用青少年通过音频计算机辅助自我访谈程序收集的数据。
平均而言，参与者仅正确回答了 50%的艾滋病毒知识项目，对有效使用避孕套和艾滋病毒检测的了解最少。在控制相关社会人口和心理因素后，知识水平与性经验有关，在有性经验的青少年中，与性传播感染/艾滋病毒检测有关，出乎意料的是，与避孕套使用减少有关。
可改变的艾滋病毒知识在有风险的非裔美国青少年中有限，是性行为和健康的重要决定因素。研究结果表明，需要更全面的艾滋病毒/艾滋病教育，特别是关于避孕套使用和定期进行性传播感染/艾滋病毒检测的好处。虽然知识本身可能不足以起到保护作用，但对艾滋病毒有准确的了解可能会通过影响成功参与保健寻求行为所需的促进健康的态度来有益于性健康。
