Abstract
We evaluated the impact of an HIV prevention intervention combining street outreach, storefront prevention services, and subculture-specific activities for homeless, runaway, and street youth. Using systematic, street-based sampling techniques, we conducted 1,146 interviews in cross-sectional surveys at intervention and comparison sites prior to and during intervention implementation. Youth in both sites reported high rates of risky sexual and injection drug use behaviors. In logistic regression the intervention did not impact HIV risk behaviors, but was independently associated with increased outreach worker (OW) contact and referrals for services. Higher levels of OW contact were associated with following through with HIV-related referrals and using new syringes. Youth-oriented needle exchange increased use of new syringes. While our study did not demonstrate an intervention effect on HIV risk behaviors, intensive, subculture-specific outreach, including needle exchange, may improve the lives of street youth.
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Gleghorn, A.A., Clements, K.D., Marx, R. et al. The Impact of Intensive Outreach on HIV Prevention Activities of Homeless, Runaway, and Street Youth in San Francisco: The AIDS Evaluation of Street Outreach Project (AESOP). AIDS Behav 1, 261–271 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026231519630
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026231519630