Table 2. Sexual and relationship characteristics of HIV-positive adolescents by knowledge of HIV-status.
| Factors | Categories | Knows HIV-status (n = 584) N (%) |
Does not know HIV-status (n = 274) N (%) |
Total HIV-positive sample (n = 858) N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relationship status | Has a boyfriend or girlfriend | 146 (25)*** | 32 (11.7)*** | 178 (20.8) |
| Sexual Debut | Ever had intercourse (vaginal or anal) | 117 (20)*** | 11 (4.0)*** | 128 (14.9) |
| Among sexually active adolescents in a relationship | ||||
| Factors |
Categories |
Knows HIV-status (n = 99) N (%) |
Does not know HIV-status (n = 8) N (%) |
Total HIV-positive sample (n = 107) N (%) |
| Knowledge of partner status | Unknown | 57 (58.2) | 5 (62.5) | 62 (58.5) |
| HIV-negative | 28 (28.6) | 3 (37.5) | 31 (29.2) | |
| HIV-positive | 13 (13.3) | 0 (0) | 13 (12.3) | |
| Disclosure to partner | Partner knows adolescents is HIV-positive and/or taking ARVs for HIVb | 34 (34.3) | 4 (50.0) | 38 (35.5) |
| Among sexually active adolescents | ||||
| Factors |
Categories |
Knows HIV-status (n = 117) N (%) |
Does not know HIV-status (n = 11) N (%) |
Total HIV-positive sample (n = 128) N (%) |
| First sexual experience | Age in yearsa | 15.55 (1.86)*** | 13.27 (5.39)*** | 15.35 (2.42) |
| Abstinent or male condom use | 88 (75.2) | 7 (63.6) | 95 (74.2) | |
| Unprotected sex | 29 (24.8) | 4 (36.4) | 33 (25.8) | |
| Most recent sexual experience | Abstinent or male condom use | 86 (73.5) | 5 (45.5)* | 91 (71.1) |
| Unprotected sex | 31 (26.5)* | 6 (55.5)* | 37 (28.9) | |
| Reasons for safe sex | Prevent pregnancy | 73 (65.2) | 7 (63.6) | 80 (65.0) |
| Passing HIV to my partner | 70 (62.5) | N/A | 70 (54.7) | |
| Prevent STI infection | 52 (46.4) | 4 (36.4) | 56 (45.5) | |
Notes: This table includes the results of a series of chi-square tests with sexual practices or relationship-related factors as an outcome and knowing one's status as the independent variable. Percentages report rates within each sub-group, that is, among adolescents who knew their status and those who did not. Bold typeface indicates determinants that were significant: ***p ≤ .001, **p ≤ .01, *p ≤ .05.
aAll values displayed are numbers (%) except for age of sexual debut in yearsa. These display mean (SD).
bHIV-positive adolescents who did not know their status were asked if they had told their boyfriend/girlfriend that they were taking medication.