Drop-in centers can play an important role in facilitating testing among homeless youth, including among injection drug users, but more outreach is needed to encourage testing in other at-risk subgroups.
Factors Associated with HIV/STI Testing in a Representative Sample of Homeless Youth in Los Angeles
ResearchPosted on rand.org Aug 1, 2012Published In: AIDS Education and Prevention, v. 24, no. 4, Aug. 2012, p. 350-362
Homeless youth are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STI), yet those at greatest risk may never have been tested for HIV or STI. In a probability sample of sexually active homeless youth in Los Angeles (n = 305), this study identifies factors associated with HIV/STI testing status. Most youth (85%) had ever been tested and 47% had been tested in the past 3 months. Recent testing was significantly more likely among youth who self-identified as gay, were Hispanic, injected drugs, and used drop-in centers, and marginally more likely among youth with more depressive symptoms. Drop-in center use mediated the association of injection drug use with HIV/STI testing. HIV/STI testing was unrelated to sexual risk behavior. Drop-in centers can play an important role in facilitating testing, including among injection drug users, but more outreach is needed to encourage testing in other at-risk subgroups.
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