title: Attitudes that affect the ability of African American preadolescent girls and their mothers to talk openly about sex.
abstract: Approximately 50% of new HIV infections in the US occur in teenagers, with African American females making up a disproportionate number. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that could encourage delaying sexual debut. Twenty-eight African American mothers and their early adolescent daughters were recruited from four inner-city community centers. Seven separate focus groups were conducted for mothers and daughters using principles of Participatory Action Research. Four codes emerged from the data: social norms regarding sex, males, self-esteem, and family structure. These codes support the importance of an intervention to facilitate sexual communication between a mother and her daughter.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115-5000, USA. t.aronowitz@neu.edu
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aronowitz
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Ethel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agbeshie
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rennells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005783:Gender Identity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012736:Sex Education; D019529:Sexuality / Q000208:ethnology*; D012945:Social Values / Q000208:ethnology