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
. 2012 Dec;51(6):551-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.03.012. Epub 2012 May 16.

Linkage to care for HIV-positive adolescents: a multisite study of the adolescent medicine trials units of the adolescent trials network

J Dennis Fortenberry  1 , Jaime Martinez, Bret J Rudy, Dina Monte; Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions
Collaborators, Affiliations

Linkage to care for HIV-positive adolescents: a multisite study of the adolescent medicine trials units of the adolescent trials network

J Dennis Fortenberry et al. J Adolesc Health. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: To understand linkage to care practices at sites providing clinical services to newly diagnosed HIV-positive adolescents.

Methods: Qualitative analysis of detailed interviews conducted with 28 personnel involved in linkage to care at 15 sites providing specialty care to HIV-positive adolescents.

Results: We showed that multiple models exist for linkage to care, and that both formal and informal community relationships are important for successful linkage to care. Stigma was seen as a universal issue, enhancing the importance of the balance of confidentiality and social support. Barriers to care, such as mental health issues, substance use, and transportation, are common.

Conclusions: We conclude that the complexity of linkage to care requires thought and planning as HIV testing is expanded to lower-risk populations.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Results of the Expanded HIV Testing Initiative--25 jurisdictions, United States, 2007-2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60:805–10. - PubMed
    1. Giordano TP, Visnegarwala F, White AC, Jr., Troisi CL, Frankowski RF, Hartman CM, et al. Patients referred to an urban HIV clinic frequently fail to establish care: Factors predicting failure. AIDS Care. 2005;17:773–83. - PubMed
    1. Heckman BD, Catz SL, Heckman TG, Miller JG, Kalichman SC. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in rural persons living with HIV disease in the United States. AIDS Care. 2004;16:219–30. - PubMed
    1. Mayer KH. Introduction: Linkage, engagement, and retention in HIV care: Essential for optimal individual- and community-level outcomes in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(S2):S205–S7. - PubMed
    1. Das M, Chu PL, Santos G-M, Scheer S, Vittinghoff E, McFarland W, et al. Decreases in community viral load are accompanied by reductions in new HIV infections in San Francisco. PLoS ONE. 2010;5(6):e11068. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms