title: Sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
abstract: Engagement in sexual activity among Haitian youth is increasing. The present cross-sectional study examined the independent correlates of sexual risk behaviors among 200 (108 male/92 female) 13-18 year-old adolescents in Port-au-Prince, Haiti using face-to-face interviews. The majority (60.0 %) had engaged in sexual intercourse. Multivariate modeling found males to be 3.52 times more likely to have had sex, 5.42 times more likely to report sexual debut before age 14, 9.75 times more likely to have >1 sexual partner, and 3.33 times more likely to not have used a condom during last sex. Adolescents living with parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles were less likely to report having unprotected sex compared with those without adult family members in the home (AOR range 0.26-0.51). The high prevalence of risky sex among males and the protective influence of stable family cohesiveness have important implications for HIV prevention efforts.
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA, jasminewcarver@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jasmine W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Carver
authors.forename: Jessy G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Dévieux
authors.forename: Stéphanie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Altice
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Niccolai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D012928:Social Desirability; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires