Socioecological Factors in Sexual Decision Making among Urban Girls and Young Women

ObjectivesTo examine how girls and young women living in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods make decisions relating to sexual debut and HIV prevention. DesignThirty semistructured in-depth interviews. We used a socioecological approach to investigate the role of neighborhood and social context on sexual decision making. SettingCommunity-based organizations and on-campus interview sites. ParticipantsAfrican American and Latina girls and young women age 13 to 24 living in disadvantaged neighborhoods. MethodsWe examine their attitudes and beliefs about sex, first opportunities for sexual intercourse, prevention behaviors, and neighborhood environments. ResultsLack of neighborhood safety and safe socialization places led youth to spend significant amounts of time indoors, often without adult supervision. ConclusionThe findings provide insight into the socioecological context in which girls are situated as they navigate sexual decision making. Unsupervised, cloistered time coupled with peer norms to engage in sexual behavior may contribute to increased risky sexual behavior among some youth. Prevention efforts should consider neighborhood context and incorporate structural and community-level interventions to create social environments that support healthy sexual decision making.