title: An Exploration of Family and Juvenile Justice Systems to Reduce Youth HIV/STI Risk.
abstract: Using in-depth interviews with 20 probation youth (60% female; 35% white; 30% Hispanic; mean age 15years, range=13-17), their caregivers (100% female; mean age 44years, range=34-71) and 12 female probation officers (100% white; mean age 46years, range=34-57), we explored how family and probation systems exacerbate or mitigate sexual risk. We conducted thematic analyses of interviews, comparing narratives of families of sexually risky (n=9) versus non-sexually risky (n=11) youth. Family functioning differed by youth sexual risk behavior around quality of relationships, communication, and limit-setting and monitoring. The involvement of families of sexually risky youth in probation positively influenced family functioning. Data suggest these families are amenable to intervention and may benefit from family-based HIV/STI interventions delivered in tandem with probation.
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, #15, New York, NY 10032. Tel: 212-568-4208.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Elkington
authors.affiliation: The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belmonte
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Latack
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and NYSPI, New York, NY.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mellins
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and NYSPI, NY.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Donenberg
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hirsch
keywords: HIV/STI; family; probation; sex risk; youth