Exploring Contextual Factors of Youth Homelessness & Sexual Risk Behaviors
CONTEXT:
HIV
disproportionately affects homeless youth, and interventions to date have had
minimal success in reducing sexual risk behaviors in this population. Few
qualitative studies have been conducted to provide insight into the influence
of homelessness-related factors on sexual risk behaviors.
METHODS:
A
qualitative study with a quantitative component was conducted with a nonprobability
sample of 64 homeless youth aged 14-24; participants were recruited from a
variety of venues in Houston between October 2013 and March 2014. Thirteen
focus group discussions were conducted; thematic analysis was used to identify
themes related to HIV risk.
RESULTS:
Participants
were predominantly black (75%), sheltered (67%) and aged 18 or older (77%).
Youth discussed how the circumstances of their homelessness and the struggle to
meet their immediate needs led to behaviors and experiences that put them at
risk for HIV. Three themes emerged: Homeless youth frequently engage in risky
sexual behavior, sometimes as a way to cope with stress; they often trade sex,
either voluntarily or involuntarily, for such necessities as money or a place
to sleep; and many experienced childhood sexual victimization or have been
victimized since becoming homeless. Youth also described how stress, stigma and
self-reliance contributed to their involvement in HIV risk behaviors.
CONCLUSIONS:
HIV
prevention methods that target stress and stigma while respecting youths'
self-reliance may help reduce sexual risk behaviors. Further research is needed
to determine suitable behavioral change techniques to address these potentially
modifiable factors.
- 1University of Texas, School of Nursing, Houston. diane.m.santamaria@uth.tmc.edu.
- 2University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work.
- 3Boston University School of Social Work.
- 4University of Houston-Downtown.
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