Abstract
Homeless youth have elevated risk of HIV through sexual behavior. This project investigates the multiple levels of influence
on unprotected sex among homeless youth, including social network, individual, and partner level influences. Findings are
based on analyses of an exploratory, semi-structured interview (n = 40) and a structured personal network interview (n = 240) with randomly selected homeless youth in Los Angeles. Previous social network studies of risky sex by homeless youth
have collected limited social network data from non-random samples and have not distinguished sex partner influences from
other network influences. The present analyses have identified significant associations with unprotected sex at multiple levels,
including individual, partner, and, to a lesser extent, the social network. Analyses also distinguished between youth who
did or did not want to use condoms when they had unprotected sex. Implications for social network based HIV risk interventions
with homeless youth are discussed.
on unprotected sex among homeless youth, including social network, individual, and partner level influences. Findings are
based on analyses of an exploratory, semi-structured interview (n = 40) and a structured personal network interview (n = 240) with randomly selected homeless youth in Los Angeles. Previous social network studies of risky sex by homeless youth
have collected limited social network data from non-random samples and have not distinguished sex partner influences from
other network influences. The present analyses have identified significant associations with unprotected sex at multiple levels,
including individual, partner, and, to a lesser extent, the social network. Analyses also distinguished between youth who
did or did not want to use condoms when they had unprotected sex. Implications for social network based HIV risk interventions
with homeless youth are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-18
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0195-0
- Authors
- David P. Kennedy, RAND Health, RAND Corporation, P.O. Box 2138, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
- Joan S. Tucker, RAND Health, RAND Corporation, P.O. Box 2138, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
- Harold D. Green Jr., RAND Health, RAND Corporation, P.O. Box 2138, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
- Daniela Golinelli, RAND Health, RAND Corporation, P.O. Box 2138, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
- Brett Ewing, RAND Health, RAND Corporation, P.O. Box 2138, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165