The investigation into the risk that pregnant Hispanic adolescents are taking was conducted at an outpatient clinic. The clinic was in New York City and in the inner city and is a source of health care for mostly the "working-poor" Hispanic population. The goal was to see if these young women were at high risk or low risk and their information on the subject.
The 29 participants were all teenagers between 13 and 19 years old. The assessment was administered as routine procedure during the month of May, 1989. The assessment itself included demographic information, medical histories, sexual background, any travel history, substance use, and any information that the subject had on the father of her expectant child.
Categories of increased risk were based on the following according to the article "Risk Assessment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Among Pregnant Hispanic Adolescents" by David Berger.
"(1) transfusion or transplant before HIV antibody screening was instituted,
(2) past or current signs or symptoms of HIV infection,
(3) more than two sexual partners,
(4) unknown sexual partners,
(5) bisexual partners,
(6) history of a sexually transmitted disease,
(7) intravenous (IV) drug or crack cocaine use by self or partner, or
(8) history of non-IV drug use other than marijuana and/or alcohol by self or partner."
One third of the young women wee found to be at increased risk. Sexual risks were among the most prevalent form of risky behavior. 79% of the subjects reported that they had contracted a sexually transmitted disease. 86% of the subjects stated the risks of substance abuse or use. Birthplace also seemed to have a correlation, with U.S. and Puerto Ricans exhibiting higher risk factors than other foreign born females. Age did not seem to bear a significant correlation in this group.
Most of the pregnant Hispanic teens included in this survey did not wish for any counseling on the subject of HIV or wish to be tested. Berger and the other authors of this article conclude that this group of individuals seems to be well informed on the subject of HIV and AIDS and yet feel that they are untouchable by the epidemic. The authors recommend that "all pregnant Hispanic adolescents, and probably all adolescents, as reported elsewhere, receive an HIV assessment as part of their prenatal or general health care. In addition, instruction in HIV risk-reduction methods should become part of a health care clinic's routine counseling program regardless of the adolescent's risk assessment results."
Berger, David. 1993. "Risk Assessment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Among Pregnant Hispanic Adolescents." Adolescence. Vol.28, No111, Fall 1993. San Diego, CA: Libra. 597-605.