Infrequent parental monitoring predicts sexually transmitted infections among low-income African American female adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively determine (using an 18-month follow-up period) the association between African American female adolescents' perceptions of parental monitoring and their acquisition of biologically confirmed infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study of 217 African American female adolescents enrolled in the control arm of a randomized trial of a human immunodeficiency virus prevention intervention program.


METHODS
A volunteer sample of adolescents (aged 14-18 years) recruited from low-income neighborhoods characterized by high rates of unemployment, substance abuse, violence, and sexually transmitted diseases.


METHODS
Adolescents provided 2 self-collected vaginal swab specimens. One was tested for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae DNA with ligase chain reaction. The other was used to inoculate culture medium for T. vaginalis. Identical assay procedures were repeated at the 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month follow-up intervals.


RESULTS
Adjusted odds ratios indicated that adolescents who perceived infrequent parental monitoring at baseline were 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-3.21) and 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.22-4.87) times more likely to acquire chlamydia or trichomoniasis, respectively, compared with their counterparts who perceived greater levels of monitoring. Similarly, adolescents who perceived infrequent parental monitoring were 2.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.16-3.74) times more likely to test positive for a sexually transmitted infection during the course of the 18-month follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents' perceptions of their parental-monitoring levels predicted subsequent acquisition of biologically confirmed chlamydia and trichomoniasis infections. These findings suggest that expanded efforts leading toward effective clinic- and community-based sexually transmitted infection intervention programs involving parents may be warranted.
Crosby
Richard A
RA
Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Fifth Floor, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rcrosby@sph.emory.edu
DiClemente
Ralph J
RJ
Wingood
Gina M
GM
Lang
Delia L
DL
Harrington
Kathy
K
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012938:Social Perception; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*