Special Section on Families

Introduction to the Special Section on Families, Youth, and HIV: Family-Based Intervention Studies

Geri R. Donenberg, PhD(1), Roberta Paikoff, PhD(1) and Willo Pequegnat, PhD(2)
1) University of Illinois at Chicago and 2) National Institute of Mental Health

Every year, a new generation at-risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) emerges, posing unique challenges for prevention and intervention. Young people are now at the center of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic; 25% of STIs reported annually occur among youth, and around half of the people who acquire HIV become infected before they turn 25. AIDS is currently the leading cause of death in 15- to 24-year olds (National Center for Health Statistics, 2005 ). Most young people acquire HIV through unprotected sexual activity, and, thus, reducing adolescent sexual risk taking has become a national and international public health priority. Substance use also confers increased risk of exposure to HIV by impairing sexual decision-making and leading to inaccurate condom use. Unfortunately, rates of adolescent sexual behavior and substance use remain high. National surveys indicate that 60.7% of males and 62.3% of females report having . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2006 31(9):869-873
© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology.