Apoyo social y conductas de riesgo en adolescentes diagnosticados y no diagnosticados con VIH/SIDA en Cali-Colombia

This descriptive and non-experimental research relates social support to risk behaviors towards HIV / AIDS of two diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV / AIDS adolescent groups in Cali, Colombia. A random sampling of 20 adolescents, aged between 17 and 19 years. For study purposes researchers used MOS social support questionnaire and Apgar II, to measure social support, in an instrumental, emotional, and affective level. Also it was used the HIV-65 Colombian adaptation scale and the confidential sexual activity questionnaire, to measure risk behaviors towards HIV / AIDS. The researchers found in the results different risk behaviors in both groups and lack of social support in one of them (diagnosed HIV / AIDS adolescent group). They conclude that social support is a protective factor towards risky behaviors in adolescence that must be included in all intervention programs towards HIV / AIDS. The study highlights the importance of strengthening the support networks of adolescents.