Sexual risk behavior and condom use among street youth in Hollywood

Abstract

A study of 610 street youth aged 13-23 who attended drop-in centers in Hollywood, Calif., reveals that 96% are sexually experienced. One-half of the young men and one-third of the young women have engaged in sex for food, money, shelter, drugs or other items needed. Twenty-five percent of the men and 15% of the women have injected drugs at some time in their life. Some 45% of the men and 30% of the women used condoms at last intercourse. A logistic regression analysis found that among men, those who have completed 10th grade or higher are nearly three times as likely to use condoms as are those who have less education. Young men who have been tested for the human immunodeficiency virus are nearly twice as likely to use condoms as are those who have not been tested. Among women, condom use declines with age, and young women who have engaged in sex for food, money or lodging are more likely to use condoms than those who have not.