[STIGMA AND HIV / AIDS AMONG PUERTO RICAN PARENTS / MOTHERS AND ADOLESCENTS].
Communication between parents and adolescents about sexuality is important for the healthy development of young people. Stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV/AIDS may adversely impact this communication. The aim of this study was to identify stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among Puerto Rican parents and adolescents. This effort is part of the Cuídalos Project which aimed to test a web-based intervention to increase communication about sexuality and health among parents and adolescents through an experimental design with 458 parent/adolescent (13-17 years of age) dyads. For the purposes of this article we report descriptive statistics on HIV/AIDS stigma attitudes gathered as part of our baseline measurement. Both parents and adolescents manifested stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. In light of these results it is necessary to continue developing interventions to reduce stigma among this population. Parents can be an invaluable asset to reduce stigma among adolescents and to help prevent sexual risk behaviors and new infection.
Ponce Health Sciences University.
Grace Rosado
GR
Pérez
Ponce Health Sciences University.
Glendalys Rivera
GR
Reyes
Ponce Health Sciences University.
Victoria Larrieux
VL
Villanueva
Ponce Health Sciences University.
Gilliam J Torres
GJ
Torres
Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de Río Piedras.
Elba Betancourt
EB
Díaz
Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de Río Piedras.
Nelson
N
Varas-Díaz
University University of Pennsylvania.
Antonia
A
Villaruel