ANAL INTERCOURSE AMONG PREADOLESCENT AND EARLY ADOLESCENT LOW-INCOME URBAN AFRICAN-AMERICANS

Objective: The purpose of this study, which was conducted as part of a larger study on adolescent risk behaviors, was to determine the frequency of anal intercourse among preadolescent and early adolescent youths. Design: Survey. Subjects: Three hundred fifty-one low-income urban African-American youths aged 9 to 15 years. Main Outcome Measures: A questionnaire assessing self-reported acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-risk behaviors was administered via a ''talking'' computer. The outcome measure was anal intercourse. Results: Of the 137 youths (39%) who had engaged in any sexual intercourse (vaginal or anal), 50 (36%) had engaged in anal intercourse, including 41 (35%) sexually active boys and nine (43%) sexually active girls. Youths who had engaged in anal intercourse were significantly more likely to report having been sexually molested and having engaged in several delinquent behaviors than were virgins or youths who had engaged in coitus only. Conclusions: Efforts at preventing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome that target low-income urban African-American early adolescents should include the high-risk nature of anal intercourse.