title: If you provide the test, they will take it: factors associated with HIV/STI Testing in a representative sample of homeless youth in Los Angeles.
abstract: 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.
authors: RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA. Ober@rand.org
authors: Allison J
authors: AJ
authors: Ober
authors: Steven C
authors: SC
authors: Martino
authors: Brett
authors: B
authors: Ewing
authors: Joan S
authors: JS
authors: Tucker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018453:Homeless Youth; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012306:Risk; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult