Attitudinal and behavioral characteristics predict high risk sexual activity in rural Tanzanian youth.

ABSTRACT: The incidence of HIV infection in rural African youth remains high despite widespread knowledge of the disease within the region and increasing funds allocated to programs aimed at its prevention and treatment. This suggests that program efficacy requires a more nuanced understanding of the profiles of the most at-risk individuals. To evaluate the explanatory power of novel psychographic variables in relation to high-risk sexual behaviors, we conducted a survey to assess the effects of psychographic factors, both behavioral and attitudinal, controlling for standard predictors in 546 youth (12-26 years of age) across 8 villages in northern Tanzania. Indicators of high-risk sexual behavior included HIV testing, sexual history (i.e., virgin/non-virgin), age of first sexual activity, condom us

SUBMITTER: Aichele SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4057388 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature