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Sexual risk behaviors among youth in the child welfare system

Sigrid James, Susanne B. Montgomery, Laurel K. Leslie and Jinjin Zhang

Children and Youth Services Review, 2009, vol. 31, issue 9, 990-1000

Abstract: This study uses data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) to provide estimates of sexual risk behaviors for 877 youth, age 11-14 at baseline, in the child welfare system. It examines the association between baseline psychosocial risk and protective factors on engagement in sexual risk behaviors after 36Â months. It further compares rates of sexual risk behaviors between youth placed in out-of-home care and those who remained with their biological family. Key findings include a high rate of pregnancy, a high percentage of youth who initiated sexual activity at or before age 13 as well as a limited role of protective factors in moderating sexual risk behaviors. A history of placement into out-of-home care is not significantly associated with greater engagement in sexual risk behaviors. Implications for intervention development and child welfare policy for this population are discussed.

Keywords: Sexual; risk; behaviors; Risk; behaviors; Foster; youth; Out-of-home; care; Child; welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:31:y:2009:i:9:p:990-1000

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