Evaluation of a targeted HIV testing program for at-risk youth

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• New HIV therapies necessitate effective case identification through HIV counseling and testing (CTS).
• Young women, youth of color, and disenfranchised youth represent populations at significant risk for HIV acquisition.
• Understanding service utilization among high-risk youth is critical for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the characteristics of youth accessing CTS services.
• To assess whether high-risk youth utilize CTS services at a program for comprehensive care.
• To identify predictors of CTS utilization among high-risk youth.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of 531 youth clients accessing a comprehensive care program.
• Logistic regression analyses to determine predictors of CTS utilization.
• Assessment of demographic and service utilization data.

Main Results:

• The majority of youth clients were female (72%) and nonwhite (60%).
• Sixty-eight percent of the youth received CTS.
• White race and receiving care at a teaching hospital were the only independent predictors of testing, suggesting underutilization by high-risk groups.

Conclusions:

• Despite targeted outreach, youth of color and other high-risk youth are not adequately accessing CTS.
• Further investigation into barriers and cultural norms surrounding CTS is essential.
• Intervention strategies may need refinement to improve access for vulnerable youth populations.