Abstract

Risk behaviors for transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus are prevalent among adolescents. One outcome of continued participation in risk behaviors is increased prevalence of HIV. Based on Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action (1975), a descriptive design was utilized to examine, the following research question: What are the HIV transmission risk behaviors of HIV-positive adolescents? The Henderson Risk Behavior Participation Survey was utilized to examine HIV transmission risk behaviors among adolescents already infected with HIV. The sample for this study was comprised of 24 adolescents age 11 to 21 years who were drawn from two infectious disease clinics in Mississippi. Data analysis revealed that 66% of the subjects continued to participate in sexual intercourse regardless of the HIV diagnosis. Seventy percent of the participants were involved with one to three sexual partners. Greater than 23% of participants revealed involvement in oral and anal sex since the HIV diagnosis and 45% were not using 1 1 1 condoms. Only 29% of the participants had notified sexual partners of the HIV positive diagnosis while 37% of them reported inquiring about a partner's HIV status. Ninety- five percent of participants had received post-diagnosis education on risk behaviors. The researcher concluded that there was a continuation of participation in HIV transmission risk behaviors among HIV-positive adolescents regardless of education. Implications for nursing science include the need for more preventive strategies aimed toward adolescents. These findings emphasize the need for further research on HIV-positive adolescents with attention to the psychosocial issues of adolescents rather than exclusively educational interventions.

Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Graduate Nursing

Degree Date

8-1-1997

Publication Number

27924512

First Advisor

Lorraine Hamm

Second Advisor

Sheila V. Adams

Document Type

Thesis

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