In a pilot HIV prevention program for 35 adolescents in a psychiatric
hospital, patients completed assessments of their HIV-related knowledge,
attitudes, and behaviors before entering the program, at discharge, and
three months after discharge. At discharge they showed significant
increases in knowledge, tolerance of people with AIDS, and self-efficacy
(or perceived ability to engage in safe-sex behaviors), although those who
had been sexually abused showed significantly less change in self-efficacy
than others. At three-month follow-up, scores had returned to baseline, but
there was a trend toward increased condom use. Findings confirm the need
for HIV-AIDS interventions for adolescents in psychiatric settings despite
barriers to implementation.
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