Wutoh AK, Kumoji EK, Wutoh RD, Campusano G; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. E11597.

Howard University, School of Pharmacy, Washington, DC, United States

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been conducted to assess the HIV risk behaviors of female street children worldwide. This is largely because the vast majority of street children are male. As part of a larger study, a pilot survey was conducted among 50 street children living in Takoradi, Ghana to assess the HIV knowledge and risk behaviors of Ghanaian street children. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted consisting of structured interviews with 50 street children. RESULTS: 37 participants were male (74%) and 13 (26%) were female. The children ranged in age from 11 to 19, with a mean age of 15. They had also been living on the street for an average of 2 years. Sixty-eight percent (n=34) reported ever having had sex. In a specific analysis of the 13 female participants, eleven (85%) reported ever having had sex. Eight (61.5%) reported ever having sex with a stranger, and 5 (38.5%) reported ever being pregnant. All of the female participants (100%) had at least minimal knowledge of HIV risk factors. Further, seven (54%) females believed that they were at risk for HIV infection but the same number believed that they could possibly prevent HIV infection. Despite this high perceived risk, 38.5% (n=5) reported doing nothing to prevent HIV infection. CONCLUSION: Though the number of female participants was small, results of this pilot survey suggest that the majority of female street children in Takoradi are at least minimally knowledgeable of HIV risk factors. However the vast majority of female street children in this sample reported previous sexual activity. Further, a large percentage also reported a previous pregnancy, highlighting their high risk for HIV infection. New methods are required to reach female street children and develop innovative ways to modify HIV risk behaviors.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Child
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Data Collection
• Female
• Ghana
• HIV Infections
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Homeless Youth
• Humans
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Risk-Taking
• Sexual Behavior
• methods

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0019095

UI: 102256593

From Meeting Abstracts