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Adolescents and young adults are disproportionately represented among both those living with HIV and individuals who are infected but do not know it. The team undertook the current study to determine factors associated with a history of HIV testing and receiving test results among a sample of urban, high-risk, sexually active adolescents in 15 US cities.
Twenty to 30 sexually active youths ages 12-24 were recruited to take part in an anonymous survey and HIV antibody testing at two to three venues per city identified by young men who have sex with men, young women or color, or IV drug users. The sample was diverse in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
Having been tested for HIV was reported by 72 percent of the 1,457 participants. Among those who had tested, 89 percent were aware of their results. “Factors found to be predictive of testing typically reflect high risk for HIV, except for some high-risk partner characteristics, including having had a partner that made the youth have sex without a condom or had a partner with unknown HIV status. Factors associated with knowledge of serostatus are reported,” the authors wrote.
“HIV testing seems to be more associated with sexually transmitted infection testing services than with primary care,” the team concluded. “More strategies are needed that increase testing, including targeting partners of high-risk individuals, ensuring receipt of test results, and increasing testing in primary care settings.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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