Prostitution, IV Drug Use, and Sex-for-Crack Exchanges Among Serious Delinquents: Risks for HIV Infection

• NCJ Number: 130191
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1991) Pages: 221-235
• Author(s): J A Inciardi; A E Pottieger; M A Forney; D D Chitwood; D C McBride
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1-RO1-DAO1827
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Interviews were conducted "on the street" in Miami with 611 seriously delinquent male and female adolescents (ages 12-17) to examine the prevalence of three HIV-risk behaviors -- prostitution, intravenous (IV) drug use, and sex-for-crack exchanges -- and to analyze the relationship of these risk behaviors to each other and to additional kinds of drug use.

Abstract

A significant proportion of these youths were engaging in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection and AIDS. Of the 100 females aged 14-17, 87 percent engaged in prostitution during the prior year, and 38 percent used drugs intravenously in the prior 90 days. Over half of the 209 male and female black respondents aged 16-17 were IV drug users as were 40 percent of their counterparts aged 14-15. Of the 30 female crack users, 90 percent sometimes exchanged sexual services for crack. The analysis indicated a tendency for these various HIV-risk behaviors to be associated with each other and with increased drug involvement of all types. Special AIDS prevention/intervention programs targeting inner-city adolescents is essential and should include drug treatment. 3 tables and 33 references (Author abstract modified)