The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #53752

John F. Faber, PhD, LSW¹, Joseph Pease, MS, MPH², Michael D. Shankle, MPH¹, and Matt Moyer, MPH¹. (1) Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 3520 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, 412.383.1777, faber@pitt.edu, (2) Division of HIV/AIDS, PA Department of Health, P.O. Box 90, Harrisburg, PA 17108

Half of all new HIV infections in the United States are among youth under the age of 25. At greatest risk are young gay, young African American and young Latino individuals, who, according to the CDC, should participate in HIV prevention planning for these target populations. This session will present an overview of a unique HIV prevention that was designed by a group of young (ages 16-24) sexually-active gay, African American and Latino young people, and the process through which the intervention was designed. This comprehensive, peer-based HIV prevention intervention targets the primary and secondary risk behaviors of participants and is rooted in behavioral science and the principles of risk reduction. Integral to the intervention's goal to reduce participants' risk behaviors, is the inclusion of sociocultural factors (homophobia, racism and ageism) that impede risk reduction. At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to access and utilize a model of youth participation in HIV prevention planning; to identify and to discuss the primary and secondary HIV prevention needs of sexually-active, high-risk youth, as articulated by this population; re-evaluate existing HIV prevention interventions for youth and revise by integrating objectives and methods deemed effective by young peer educators and HIV prevention planners; and identify and access national HIV prevention interventions that have been evaluated as "effective" by the CDC for high-risk youth.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
• access and utilize a model of youth participation in HIV prevention planning;
• identify and discuss the primary and secondary HIV prevention needs of sexually-active, high-risk youth, as articulated by this population;
• re-evaluate existing HIV prevention interventions for youth and revise by integrating objectives and methods deemed effective by young peer educators and HIV prevention planners;
• and, identify and access national HIV prevention interventions that have been evaluated as "effective" by the CDC for high-risk youth.

Keywords: Youth, HIV Interventions

Related Web page: stophiv.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of HIV/AIDS
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.