Homelessness and unstable housing associated with an increased risk of HIV and STI transmission among street-involved youth.
The role that environmental factors play in driving HIV and STI transmission risk among street-involved youth has not been well examined. We examined factors associated with number of sex partners using quasi-Poisson regression and consistent condom use using logistic regression among participants enroled in the At Risk Youth Study (ARYS). Among 529 participants, 253 (47.8%) reported multiple partners while only 127 (24.0%) reported consistent condom use in the past 6 months. Homelessness was inversely associated with consistent condom use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=0.47, p=0.008), while unstable housing was positively associated with greater numbers of sex partners (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]=1.44, p=0.010). These findings indicate the need for interventions which modify environmental factors that drive risk among young street-involved populations.
Marshall
Brandon D L
BD
British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
Kerr
Thomas
T
Shoveller
Jean A
JA
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
Buxton
Jane A
JA
Wood
Evan
E
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018453:Homeless Youth; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult