Risk behaviors of youth living with HIV: pre- and post-HAART.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the transmission behavior among youth living with HIV (YLH), pre- and post-HAART.


METHODS
Two cohorts were recruited: (1) 349 YLH during 1994 to 1996 and (2) 175 YLH during 1999 to 2000, after the wide availability of HAART. Differences in sexual and substance-use risk acts and quality of life were examined.


RESULTS
Post-HAART YLH were more likely to engage in unprotected sex and substance use, to be more emotionally distressed, and to have lower quality of life than were pre-HAART YLH.


CONCLUSIONS
Targeted interventions for YLH that address reductions in transmission acts and aim to improve quality of life are still needed.
Lightfoot
Marguerita
M
Center for Community Health, AIDS Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. mal@ucla.edu
Swendeman
Dallas
D
Rotheram-Borus
Mary Jane
MJ
Comulada
W Scott
WS
Weiss
Robert
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents