Low income, urban, African-American, and Hispanic youth have been identified as a group for which there is concern about the spread of HIV. Using data from a household probability sample of 1,435 minority youth aged 15 to 24 in Detroit, this paper evaluates levels of sexual activity, condom use, and reasons for condom use and non-use. Comparisons with national samples of minority youth indicated that Detroit low-income youth have similar patterns of sexual behavior to national samples, although males and African-American females began their sexual experiences earlier and were less likely to have used condoms or other protection from pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at first intercourse. Recent levels of condom use also left many Detroit youth unprotected from STDs. Less than half used a condom at least intercourse in the last year with nonmarital partners that they "knew well." In addition, condom use with partners that they "did not know well" was very low for Hispanic youth: Among those who had at least one casual partner in the last year, only 30% to 33% had ever used a condom with that partner. Analysis of reasons for use indicate that both pregnancy prevention and disease prevention were important motivations for condom use. However, many youth did not use condoms for reasons such as unavailability of condoms or unplanned sex.
PIP: African-American and Hispanic youth of low income residing in urban settings are at particular risk of contracting and spreading HIV. This paper reports findings from a study evaluating the levels of sexual activity, condom use, and reasons for condom use and non-use among a sample of 1435 minority youth aged 15-24 users of mean age 19.1 in Detroit. Compared against national samples of minority youth, these subjects have similar patterns of sexual behavior, although males and African-American females began their sexual experiences earlier and were less likely to have used condoms or other protection from pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases at first intercourse. 35-48% used a condom at last intercourse in the last year with nonmarital partners that they knew well. Among Hispanic subjects reporting having at least one casual partner in the last year, only 30-33% had ever used a condom with that partner. Further, prevention against both pregnancy and disease were found to be important motivators for using condoms, but many did not use them because they were unavailable or the sexual encounter was unplanned.