Youth at risk. Sex, drugs, and human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults are at risk for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection due to unprotected sexual intercourse and drug use. In 1988 and 1989, blinded surveys were conducted in 84 sexually transmitted disease clinics, 115 women's health clinics, and 19 drug treatment centers in 38 metropolitan areas. Blood specimens from 153,242 clients, aged 15 to 24 years, were tested for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 antibodies after all client identifiers were removed. In sexually transmitted disease clinics, the median rate was 0.4% among 15- to 19-year-olds, compared with 1.4% among 20- to 24-year-olds. Among heterosexual adolescents, rates in females were significantly higher than in males (Wilcoxon signed rank test). Rates in heterosexuals were highest in the northeastern and southeastern United States and in Puerto Rico. In 20- to 24-year-old male clients in sexually transmitted disease clinics who had sex with males, rates ranged from 9.7% to 55.6%. In drug treatment centers, the median rate among 20- to 24-year-old men and women was 8.3% (range, 0% to 33.3%). Rates in women's health clinics were much lower (median, 0.1%). The high rates of infection in certain groups of adolescents and young adults indicate the need for improved care, education, and outreach targeted toward those at high risk.