Citation

Pampati S, Lowry R, Steiner RJ. AIDS Care 2019; 31(9): 1106-1113.

Affiliation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health , Atlanta , GA , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09540121.2019.1619666

PMID

31129997

Abstract

HIV testing is a critical strategy for prevention of HIV yet testing among sexually experienced adolescents is sub-optimal. The purpose of this study is to examine associations between risk behaviors and experiences related to substance use, violence, and mental health and suicide and receipt of testing. We analyzed cross-sectional data from the 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a nationally representative sample of U.S. high school students in grades 9-12. Analyses were limited to sexually experienced participants (n = 5192). Measures included nine indicators related to substance use, violence, and mental health and suicide. Unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated for each indicator to examine associations with testing. Adjusted models controlled for same-sex sexual behavior, sexual risk, and demographic characteristics. Prevalence of HIV testing was 17.2%. In adjusted models, forced sexual intercourse, injection drug use, other illicit drug use, and persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness were associated with a higher likelihood of testing. Prevalence of HIV testing in this sexually experienced sample was low. Some behaviors and experiences that may be indicative of HIV risk, including sexual dating violence and prescription opioid misuse, were not associated with testing.

Language: en

Keywords

HIV testing; adolescents; mental health; substance use; violence