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Volume 4
Journal of Pediatric Care
ISSN: 2471-805X
Page 68
JOINT EVENT
August 06-07, 2018 Madrid, Spain
&
2
nd
Edition of International Conference on
Adolescent Health & Medicine
18
th
International Conference on
Pediatrics Health
Pediatrics Health 2018
&
Adolescent Health 2018
August 06-07, 2018
Health risk behaviors in homeless girls: Aqualitative approach using the theory of planned behavior
Susana Castaños Cervantes
Ibero American University, Mexico
E
ven though homeless girls engage in several health risk behaviors that negatively impact their well-being, little is known
from a psychosocial perspective. The aim of this research was to qualitatively analyze the health risk behaviors of substance
use and abuse, sexual risk behaviors and illicit activities (theft, prostitution and drug dealing) through Ajzen's Theory of
Planned Behavior in a group of 250 homeless girls ages 12-23 years old to, subsequently, design and implement effective
intervention strategies. A semi-structured interview based on Ajzen’s theory was applied and a content analysis was done.
Main findings revealed that although homeless girls know the repercussions associated with such behaviors, they carry them
out due to social pressure, to belong to a group and to please their partner. Therefore, affiliative relationships are the central
factor that increases the likelihood of engaging in health risk behaviors, followed by the presence of these behaviors in the
environment. Consequently, the key to an efficient intervention lies in promoting the establishment of a healthy social support
network, the learning and acquisition of assertive skills (resisting pressures, saying no and establishing healthy interpersonal
relationships), and the non-association with risk groups as essential components for diminishing such behaviors. In this way it
will be more feasible to modify the behavioral, normative and control beliefs associated with health risk behaviors. Afterwards,
through community interventions it is possible to buffer the negative effects of risk-environments. Nonetheless, without these
components, the best psychological therapy accompanied by medical treatment, will have no long-lasting effects.
susycc84@gmail.comJ Pediatr Care 2018, Volume 4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-805X-C3-012