AIDS risk behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes among pregnant adolescents and young mothers
Koniak-Griffin, D.; Brecht, M.L.
Health Education and Behavior the Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education 24(5): 613-624
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1090-1981 PMID: 9307897 DOI: 10.1177/109019819702400508Document Number: 269628
This study assessed AIDS risk behaviours, knowledge, and related attitudes of pregnant adolescents and young mothers (n=151). Results revealed that a substantial portion of the sample engaged in sexual behaviours (e.g. unprotected sex and multiple sex partners) that increased their risk for acquiring HIV and possibly transmitting the disease to their children. Knowledge about major modes of HIV transmission was high; however, commonly held misconceptions were expressed concerning the spread of disease and methods of prevention. Results suggest that neither the experience of having an unplanned pregnancy nor knowing about HIV transmission was a sufficient motivation to reduce risk behaviours in this sample.