title: Sexual risk behavior and STI health literacy among ethnic minority adolescent women.
abstract: Although information is available for prevention of sexually transmitted infection (STI/HIV), adolescents continue to engage in high risk sexual behavior particularly ethnic minority adolescent women with histories of STI or abuse. A description therefore of STI/HIV knowledge and sexual risk behavior among these women is indicated for modification of prevention efforts for sexual health promotion. African-American (n=94) and Mexican-American (n=465) adolescent women 14-18 years of age were included in the study. Assessments of sexual risk behavior and STI/HIV knowledge among these adolescent women described Mexican-American women as at higher risk of STI, pregnancy, substance use and abuse with lower levels of STI/HIV knowledge, previous HIV testing and perceptions of risk than African-American women. A focus on Mexican-American adolescent women with histories of STI and abuse is indicated for translation of community-based health promotion interventions for amelioration of potential adverse sexual health outcomes among ethnic minority adolescent women.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, Austin, TX, USA. Electronic address: jdchampion@mail.nur.utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dimmitt Champion
authors.forename: Badia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harlin
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013781:Texas
keywords: Adolescent health; Ethnic minority women; Sexual risk behavior