Case finding for HIV-positive youth: a special type of hidden population

Bell, Douglas N; Martinez, Jaime; Botwinick, Geri; Shaw, Kimberly; Walker, Lynn E; Dodds, Sally; Sell, Randall L; Johnson, Robert L; Friedman, Lawrence B; Sotheran, Jo L; Siciliano, Carl

doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(03)00160-5

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Volume 33, Issue 2, Supplement , Pages 10-22, August 2003

Case finding for HIV-positive youth: a special type of hidden population

Douglas N Bell, Ph.D.
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, USA (D.N.B., J.M.)
Jaime Martinez, M.D.
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, USA (D.N.B., J.M.)
Geri Botwinick, M.P.A.
- Mailman Segal Institute for Childhood Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA (K.S.)
Kimberly Shaw, Ph.D.
- Mailman Segal Institute for Childhood Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA (K.S.)
Lynn E Walker, M.S.
- SafeSpace, New York, New York, USA (L.E.W., C.S.)
Sally Dodds, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Women’s Mental Health Programs, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA (S.D.)
Randall L Sell, Sc.D.
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA (R.L.S., J.L.S.)
Robert L Johnson, M.D.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, UMDNJ—New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA (R.L.J., G.B.)
- Address correspondence to: Robert L. Johnson, M.D., F.A.A.P., Professor and Interim Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ—New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07101, USA.
Lawrence B Friedman, M.D.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA (L.B.F.)
Jo L Sotheran, Ph.D.
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA (R.L.S., J.L.S.)
Carl Siciliano
- SafeSpace, New York, New York, USA (L.E.W., C.S.)

Accepted 29 April 2003.

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the HIV case finding strategies used by the Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS), Adolescent HIV Outreach and Treatment programs, the populations of youth they were able to reach, and the populations of HIV-positive youth they were able to identify.

Method

Program specifications from five programs located in four major metropolitan centers were contrasted. Four of the programs also provided outcome data for HIV counseling and testing outcome numbers, demographic and risk profile data for youth who underwent HIV testing, and mode of infection of HIV-positive youth.

Results

The program outcomes were discussed in terms of similarities and differences in outreach methods (e.g., peer workers, time of outreach, etc.), geographic settings (i.e., mobile van, institutional settings, community locations), individual characteristics (e.g., pregnant women) and youth subcultures (i.e., gay/transgendered, incarcerated juveniles, homeless).

Conclusion

Because HIV-positive adolescents will constitutionally remain a “hidden population,” a great deal of time and effort will continue to need to go into the front end of outreach, counseling and testing. Specific guidance and recommendations for locating HIV-positive youth were provided to program designers for each type of outreach strategy.

Keywords: Adolescents, HIV counseling and testing, Case finding, Hidden populations