title: Unprotected sex of homeless youth: results from a multilevel dyadic analysis of individual, social network, and relationship factors.
abstract: Homeless youth have elevated risk of HIV through sexual behavior. This project investigates the multiple levels of influence on unprotected sex among homeless youth, including social network, individual, and partner level influences. Findings are based on analyses of an exploratory, semi-structured interview (n = 40) and a structured personal network interview (n = 240) with randomly selected homeless youth in Los Angeles. Previous social network studies of risky sex by homeless youth have collected limited social network data from non-random samples and have not distinguished sex partner influences from other network influences. The present analyses have identified significant associations with unprotected sex at multiple levels, including individual, partner, and, to a lesser extent, the social network. Analyses also distinguished between youth who did or did not want to use condoms when they had unprotected sex. Implications for social network based HIV risk interventions with homeless youth are discussed.
authors.affiliation: RAND Health, RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA. davidk@rand.org
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Joan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Harold D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Golinelli
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ewing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*