Faculty Collaboration Database

Sexual Risk Behaviors of African American Adolescent Females: The Role of Cognitive and Religious Factors. J Transcult Nurs 2018 Jan;29(1):74-83

Date

12/03/2016

Pubmed ID

27909236

DOI

10.1177/1043659616678660

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85048713961 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   17 Citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: African American (AA) high school-age girls are more likely to have had sex before age 13 years and have higher rates of all sexually transmitted infections. Cognition and religion/spirituality are associated with adolescent sexuality, therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify cognitive and religious substrates of AA girls' risky sexual behaviors.

METHOD: A descriptive study was conducted with 65 AA girls aged 15 to 20 years using computerized questionnaires and cognitive function tasks.

RESULTS: Average age was 17.8 ± 1.9 years and average sexual initiation age was 15.5 ± 2.6 years. Overall, 57.6% reported a history of vaginal sex. Girls who reported low/moderate religious importance were significantly younger at vaginal sex initiation than girls for whom religion was very/extremely important. Girls who attended church infrequently reported significantly more sexual partners.

IMPLICATIONS: Health care providers can use these findings to deliver culturally congruent health care by assessing and addressing these psychosocial factors in this population.

Author List

George Dalmida S, Aduloju-Ajijola N, Clayton-Jones D, Thomas TL, Erazo Toscano RJ, Lewis R, Fleming T, Taylor S, Lunyong M

Author

Dora Clayton-Jones PhD RN CPNP-PC Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Female
Humans
Risk-Taking
Sexual Behavior
Spirituality
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult