The purpose of this article is to examine the self-reported sexual behaviors of African American adolescents living in the Midwest. A baseline survey was administered to 448 African American youth between the ages of 12 and 17. The article examines the self-reported sexual behaviors of African American adolescents in comparison to U.S. norms using the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey and the Kansas Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey. The results indicate that this African American sample was slightly younger than the U.S. sample and reported better safer sex practices. Limitations and future research are also discussed.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( 2002a). Deaths, percent of total deaths, and death rates for the 15 leading causes of death in 5-year age groups, by race and sex: United States, 1999-2002 (LCKW1). Retrieved April 17, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/LCWK1_2002.pdf
2.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( 2002b). Sexually transmitted disease surveillance, 2001. Atlanta, GA: Author.
3.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( 2006a). HIV/AIDS among Youth: CDC HIV/AIDS fact sheet. Retrieved April 17, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/youth.htmon
4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( 2006b). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2005 (Surveillance Summaries 2006). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 55(SS05), 1-108.
5.
Dawson, G. ( 2005). African Americans and HIV/AIDS. Health Tidbits. Journal of the National Medical Association, 97, 137.
6.
DiClemente, R., Wingood, G., Harrington, K., Lang, D., Davies, S., Hook, E., et al. (2004). Efficacy of an HIV prevention intervention for African American adolescent girls. Journal of the American Medical Association, 292, 171-179.
7.
Healthy People2010. (2000). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Government Printing Office.
8.
Jemmott, J., Jemmott, L., Fong, G., & McCaffee, K. ( 1999). Reducing HIV risk-associated sexual behavior among African American adolescents: Testing the generality of intervention effects. American Journal of Community Psychology, 27, 161-187.
9.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment. ( 2000). Reported HIV infections in Kansas between 07-1999 and 06-30-2000. Topeka, KS: Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Prevention.
10.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment. ( 2006). HIV/AIDS bi-annual data tables: December 2006 (Kansas HIV/AIDS Reporting System [HARS]). Retrieved April 17, 2007 , from http://www.kdheks.gov/hiv-std/update_newsletter/biannual_tables_Dec_06.pdf
11.
Miller, K., Boyer, C., & Cotton, G. ( 2004). The STD and HIV epidemic in African American youth: Reconceptualizing approaches to risk reduction. Journal of Black Psychology , 30, 124-137.
12.
Rangel, M.C., Gavin, L., Reed, C., Fowler, M.G., & Lee, L.M. ( 2006). Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health , 39, 156-163.
13.
U.S. Census Bureau. (20002). American Community Survey, 2000 summary tables. Retrieved March 20, 2007, from http://factfinder.census.gov
14.
Williams, P. ( 2003). HIV/AIDS case profile of African Americans: Guidelines for ethnic specific health promotion, education, and risk reduction activities for African Americans. Family and Community Health, 26, 289-306.
