title: HIV infection and sexual partnerships and behaviour among adolescent girls in Nairobi, Kenya.
abstract: Early sexual partnerships place young women in sub-Saharan Africa at high risk for HIV. Few studies have examined both individual- and partnership-level characteristics of sexual relationships among adolescent girls. A cross-sectional survey of sexual history and partnerships was conducted among 761 adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in Nairobi, Kenya. Rapid HIV testing was conducted and correlates of HIV infection were determined using multivariate logistic regression. The HIV prevalence was 7% and seropositive adolescents had a younger age at sexual debut (P < 0.01), more sexual partners in 12 months (P = 0.03), and were more likely to report transactional or non-consensual sex (P < 0.01). Girls who reported not knowing their partner's HIV status were 14 times as likely to be HIV-seropositive than girls who knew their partner's status (adjusted odds ratio: 14.2 [1.8, 109.3]). Public health messages to promote HIV testing and disclosure within partnerships could reduce sexual risk behaviours and HIV transmission among adolescents.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. arositch@jhsph.edu
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Rositch
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Cherutich
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Brentlinger
authors: J N
authors: JN
authors: Kiarie
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Nduati
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Farquhar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult