Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation

Correlates of HIV testing history among urban youth recruited through venue-based testing in 15 US cities

Diane M Straub et al. Sex Transm Dis. 2011 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Adolescents and young adults comprise disproportionately high percentages of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and those with undiagnosed HIV. Our objective was to determine factors associated with history of HIV testing and receipt of results among a sample of urban, high-risk, sexually active adolescents in 15 US cities.

Methods: A total of 20 to 30 sexually active youths, aged 12 to 24 years, were recruited to participate in an anonymous survey and HIV antibody testing at 2 to 3 venues per city identified by young men who have sex with men, young women of color, or intravenous drug users.

Results: Of the 1457 participants, 72% reported having been previously tested for HIV (89% of whom were aware of their test results). Our sample was diverse in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. 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. HIV testing seems to be more associated with sexually transmitted infection testing services than with primary care.

Conclusions: More strategies are needed that increase testing, including targeting partners of high-risk individuals, insuring receipt of test results, and increasing testing in primary care settings.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Campsmith M, Rhodes P, Hall I. Estimated Prevalence of Undiagnosed HIV Infection in the United States at the End of 2006. 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections; 2009. Feb 16–20, Abstract.
    1. Hall HI, Song R, Rhodes P. Estimation of HIV Incidence in the United States. JAMA. 2008;300(5):520–529. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Marks G, Crepaz N, Senterfitt, et al. Meta-Analysis of High-Risk Sexual Behavior in Persons Aware and Unaware they are Infected with HIV in the United States: Implications for HIV Prevention Programs. J Acquir Immun Defic Syndr. 2005;39:446–453. - PubMed
    1. CDC. Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS Viral Hepatitis, STI, and TB Prevention. Advancing HIV Prevention: New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic. ( http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/prevprog/ahp/default.htm). Advancing HIV Prevention: New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic. Unites States, 2003. MMWR, Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2003;52(15):239–332.
    1. Murphy DA, Mitchell R, Vermund SH, et al. and the Adolescent Medicine HIV/AIDS Research Network. Factors Associated with HIV Testing Among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative High-Risk Adolescents: The Reach Study, Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health. Pediatrics. 2002;110:e36. - PubMed

Publication types