HIV This Week

Agha S, Hutchinson P, Kusanthan T. The effects of religious affiliation on sexual initiation and condom use in Zambia. Does religious affiliation reduce HIV risk among young women in Zambia? J Adolescent Health 2006;38:550-55.

Agha et al analyzed data from a representative probability sample of 5,534 women aged 13-20. The women were questioned about their sexual initiation, condom use during first sex, religious affiliation and sociodemographic characteristics. These young women were found to be more likely to delay sexual initiation but less likely to use condoms during first sex. The authors conclude that denominations which are not only strongly opposed to premarital sex and condom use, but are able to exercise control over adolescents through socialization or the threat of social exclusion, are likely to create conflicting behaviors among adolescents that cancel each other in terms of HIV risk. Overall, these findings suggest that affiliation with conservative religious groups is unlikely to reduce the risk of HIV infection.