Increasing the reach of HIV testing to young Latino MSM: results of a pilot study integrating outreach and services.
BACKGROUND
In the U.S., HIV infections are increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly young, racial/ethnic minority MSM.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the feasibility of increasing HIV testing among young Latino MSM by integrating tailored outreach strategies with testing, counseling, and HIV medical services.


METHODS
Descriptive study comparing demographic characteristics, behaviors, and HIV test results of clients from the intervention period with clients who tested during other time periods.


RESULTS
Clients in the intervention period were younger and more likely to be Latino than those in other time periods. In addition, clients who received outreach were more likely than those who did not receive outreach to report methamphetamine use, sex with an HIV-positive person, and sex with a sex worker.


CONCLUSIONS
Venue-based and selective media outreach, in combination with linking rapid testing to HIV care, may help overcome some of the barriers to testing among high-risk young Latino MSM.
Erausquin
Jennifer Toller
JT
University of California Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, LA, CA 90095-1772, USA. jtoller@ucla.edu
Duan
Naihua
N
Grusky
Oscar
O
Swanson
Aimee-Noelle
AN
Kerrone
Dustin
D
Rudy
Ellen T
ET
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055815:Young Adult