The Effect of Childhood Maltreatment on HIV- Risk-Related Sexual Behavior among Sexually Active Young Adults in the U.S.

Rabindra K. C., University of Texas at San Antonio

HIV/AIDS is one of the major public health concerns all over the world.Since it has affected many countries; the USA is also not free from it. According to CDC (2012), about 1.2 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 in the USA.Childhood maltreatment and delinquency are associated with many health problems including HIV-risk related sexual behavior.This study used the public use data from the first three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The outcome variable of this study is HIV- risk related sexual behavior of sexually active young adults taken from the third wave of the survey.Independent variables used are childhood maltreatment and consistent delinquency whereas control variables are age, sex and race/ethnicity of young adults.The study found that parental neglect,sexual abuse, and consistent delinquency are positively associated with young adult's HIV- risk related sexual behavior.Males and non-Hispanic blacks are vulnerable in this regard.