Donna Hubbard McCree|Gina M. Wingood|Ralph J. DiClemente|Susan L. Davies|Kathy Harrington
Religiosity and risky sexual behavior in African-American adolescent females
Emory University|Emory University|Emory University|University of Alabama at Birmingham|University of Alabama at Birmingham
examine association religiosity defined frequency engaging religiousspiritual activities africanamerican adolescent females sexual behaviors attitudes toward sex ability negotiate safer sexbetween december 1996 april 1999 1130 female adolescents screened eligibility sexually transmitted disease stdhuman immunodeficiency virus hiv prevention trial data collection achieved confidential selfadministered questionnaire examined religiosity structured interview regarding sexual behavior descriptive statistics used characterize sociodemographics sample logistic regression used measure association religiosity outcome variablesin study sample n 522 64 adolescents higher religiosity scores based 4item scale alpha 68 results indicate adolescents higher religiosity scores significantly likely higher selfefficacy communicating new well steady male partners sex stds hiv pregnancy prevention refusing unsafe sexual encounter adolescents also likely initiated sex later age used condom past 6 months possess positive attitudes toward condom useresults study indicate relationship religiosity sexual behaviors attitudes toward sex ability negotiate safer sex