title: Reducing HIV sexual risk behaviors among runaway adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reductions in runaways' sexual risk behaviors were evaluated in response to an intensive program to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a nonrandomized control trial, sexual risk behaviors among 78 runaways at one residential shelter who received up to 30 HIV/AIDS intervention sessions were compared with 67 runaways at a nonintervention shelter with sexual behaviors assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Runaways were recruited from the only two publicly funded shelters in New York, NY.
  
  
  METHODS
  The runaways were aged 11 to 18 years, 64% female, and predominantly black or Hispanic.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention addressed general knowledge about HIV/AIDS, coping skills, access to health care and other resources, and individual barriers to safer sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consistent condom use, a high-risk pattern of sexual behavior, and sexual abstinence over a 3-month time frame were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As the number of intervention sessions increased, runaways' reports of consistent condom use increased significantly (at 3 months, unique R2 = .06, P less than .05; at 6 months, unique R2 = .09, P less than .05), and their reports of engaging in a high-risk pattern of sexual behavior decreased significantly (at 3 months, unique R2 = .03, P = .06; at 6 months, unique R2 = .04, P less than .05). Abstinence did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The demonstrated effectiveness of the intensive HIV/AIDS program highlights the importance of enlarging the scope of most current HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Division of Child Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rotheram-Borus
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haignere
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D009519:New York City; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000517:prevention & control*