A pilot survey was conducted among 100 street children aged 11–19 years and data collected regarding HIV knowledge, risk behaviors, home and sexual experiences, and factors that contributed to their relocation to the street environment. Data indicated that 80% of the street children had at least minimal knowledge of HIV and 54% perceived themselves to be at risk for contracting HIV. More than three-fourths of the females, and over half of the boys reported ever having sex. There were significant differences between males and females for sexual activity, physical and sexual abuse, and prostitution, as girls were more likely to be sexually active, physically abused, and involved in prostitution.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study was partially funded through grant support from: The Health Services and Resources Administration (1 D34 HP04069-01), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HS11673-01A1) of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Portions of this research were presented at the XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona Spain, July, 2002 and the Annual Meeting of the Society for Cross Cultural Research, San Jose, California, February, 2004.
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Wutoh, A.K., Kumoji, E.K., Xue, Z. et al. HIV Knowledge and Sexual Risk Behaviors of Street Children in Takoradi, Ghana. AIDS Behav 10, 209–215 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-005-9038-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-005-9038-6