HIV, STDs, and Sexual Behavior Research Briefs

2011

Improving Value for Money in Funding HIV Services in Developing Countries — 2011

This brief summarizes options for improving value for money in HIV funding by using a case study that focuses on the two largest funders, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund, and antiretroviral therapy.

A Worksite Parenting Program That Works — 2011

Summarizes research on Talking Parents, Healthy Teens, a worksite-based parenting program designed by RAND and University of California at Los Angeles researchers that improves communication between parents and their adolescents on sexual health.

2010

Are Adolescents Talking with Their Parents About Sex Before Becoming Sexually Active? — 2010

Examines parent-child discussions of sexual behavior. Finds consistency in the timing and content of such discussions; however, many parents and children do not discuss key topics, such as birth control, before adolescents become sexually active.

How Can Faith-Based Organizations Help Address the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Central America? — 2010

Describes the role that faith-based organizations play in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras and how this role might be expanded.

How Can Faith-Based Organizations Help Address the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Central America? (Spanish translation) — 2010

Describes the role that faith-based organizations play in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras and how this role might be expanded.

2009

How Parental HIV Affects Children — 2009

Examines the unique challenges faced by children of HIV-infected parents and indicates how some of the negative effects of parental HIV on children could be ameliorated.

Improving Mass Delivery of Antiretroviral Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa — 2009

Provides a summary of strategies for making access to antiretroviral therapy widespread, sustainable, more cost-effective, and efficient, while still providing quality care in sub-Saharan Africa.

2008

Exposure to Sex on TV May Increase the Chance of Teen Pregnancy — 2008

Offers some practical implications based on the first study to demonstrate a link between exposure to sexual content on TV and subsequently becoming pregnant or being responsible for a pregnancy before the age of 20.

2007

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues Among People with HIV: Lessons from HCSUS — 2007

This research brief describes findings from HIV Costs and Services Utilization Study surveys on the prevalence of mental health and substance abuse problems for persons with HIV, access to appropriate care, and ability to adhere to treatment.

2006

Disparities in Care for HIV Patients: Results of the HCSUS Study — 2006

This research brief summarizes the findings on access to care from the HIV Costs and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS), the first comprehensive U.S. survey of health care use among a nationally representative sample of HIV-positive patients.

2005

Cost-Effective Allocation of Government Funds for Preventing HIV — 2005

To help decisionmakers allocate funds effectively, the RAND Corporation developed a mathematical model of the cost of a wide variety of HIV prevention interventions.

Do People with HIV Get the Dental Care They Need? Results of the HCSUS Study — 2005

One of the earliest findings in the 20-year history of the HIV epidemic is that oral health was a frequent problem among HIV-infected individuals.

HIV Testing Among Indigent Women: Who Gets Tested? — 2005

Among a random sample of 460 homeless (sheltered) women and 438 women living in low-income housing (housed women) in Los Angeles County, 83 percent reported that they had been tested for HIV at least once: 88 percent of sheltered women versus 80 percent of housed women.

Reducing Sexual Risk Among Injection Drug Users — 2005

Multiple sexual partnerships, sex work, and unprotected intercourse are common among injection drug users (IDUs).

2004

Does Watching Sex on Television Influence Teens’ Sexual Activity? — 2004

Two recent studies led by RAND Health behavioral scientist Rebecca Collins examined the impact of TV sex on teenagers' sexual beliefs and activities.

2002

Understanding the Sexual Behavior of Adolescents — 2002

As part of an ongoing program of research on risk behavior, Mark Schuster and his colleagues examined the range of adolescent sexual activity.

2000

Access to HIV Care: Initial Results from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study — 2000

The first study to demonstrate systemic, socioeconomic differences in access to HIV care across all regions of America.

1999

Caring for HIV Patients: Good News and Bad News — 1999

The bad news, however, is that one-half to two-thirds of American adults infected with HIV do not get regular care, and even fewer receive the most advanced anti-HIV therapy.

A Portrait of the HIV+ Population in America: Initial Results from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study — 1999

This data, collected by an innovative method of probability sampling, also provides a national context for interpreting the results of previous studies based on non-representative samples.