Citation

Wingood GM, DiClemente RJ, Crosby R, Harrington K, Davies SL, Hook EW. Pediatrics 2002; 110(5): e57.

Affiliation

Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. gwingoo@sph.emory.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12415063

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between gang involvement and female adolescents' health. METHODS: African American adolescent females (N = 522) completed a survey that assessed their history of gang involvement and health behaviors and provided specimens that were analyzed for marijuana use and sexually transmitted diseases. RESULTS: In logistic regression analyses, adolescents with a history of gang involvement were more likely to have been expelled from school (odds ratio [OR]: 3.6), be a binge drinker (OR: 3.3), have a positive toxicologic test for marijuana (OR: 2.6), have been in 3 or more fights in the past 6 months (OR: 3.8), have a nonmonogamous partner (OR: 2.4), and test positive for Trichomonas vaginalis (OR: 2.2) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (OR: 3.6). CONCLUSION: This study extends the current research on risk behaviors associated with gang involvement to include biological markers for substance use and sexual health outcomes, namely, marijuana use and sexually transmitted diseases.

Language: en