Supporting health professionals who serve gender-diverse youth.

Health care providers have recently experienced a significant increase in gender-diverse youth seeking gender-affirming care. Politicians have responded by introducing legislation in dozens of states banning or limiting access to gender-affirming care, especially for youth. This coordinated legislative campaign has been accompanied by a multitude of threats against both hospitals and health care providers who offer gender-affirming care to youth.

Parental Engagement in Consent Processes for Enrollment in Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials: Implications for Minor Adolescents' Willingness to Participate.

Purpose: Minor adolescents are often excluded from HIV prevention clinical trials due to unresolved ethical issues. Their under-representation in research leads to delayed access to new HIV prevention approaches. We examine the relationship between consent procedures, trial features, demographic and social characteristics, and minor adolescents' willingness to participate (WTP) in biomedical HIV prevention research.

nPEP protocol implementation and evaluation at a local US Crisis Center.

Non-occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (nPEP) is recommended by the CDC for isolated exposures that pose "substantial risk" for HIV transmission. To combat multiple barriers to nPEP utilization, a comprehensive program was developed through the local community sexual assault provider. The purpose of this study was to evaluate nPEP protocol implementation.

Innovative Approaches to Obtain Minors' Consent for Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials: Multi-Site Quasi-Experimental Study of Adolescent and Parent Perspectives.

Background: Despite the high burden of new HIV infections in minor adolescents, they are often excluded from biomedical HIV prevention trials, largely owing to the ethical complexities of obtaining consent for enrollment. Researchers and ethics regulators have a duty to protect adolescents-as a special category of human subjects, they must have protection that extends beyond those afforded to all human subjects. Typically, additional protection includes parental consent for enrollment.

Sexual Partner Characteristics, Relationship Type, and HIV Risk Among a Community Venue-based Sample of Urban Adolescent and Young Adult Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Few studies have examined sexual partnerships and HIV risk in diverse samples of African American/black and Hispanic/Latino adolescent and young adult men who have sex with men (YMSM), a group that have a high burden of HIV in the U.S. A community-venue recruitment approach was used, which identified significant differences in HIV risk by sexual partner type among 1215 YMSM.

Health-care transition from adolescent to adult services for young people with HIV.

HIV-related care and treatment engagement are crucial steps to improve individual and population-level health; yet, many young people (18-25 years old) with HIV are not maintained in, or disengage from, care. Health-care transition and the transfer to adult care are particularly vulnerable points in the care and treatment of young people with HIV. In this Review, we explore barriers and facilitators to health-care transition, evaluate existing health-care transition programmes, and identify best practices for the improvement of health-care transition outcomes and health.

Human papillomavirus vaccine information, motivation, and behavioral skills among young adult US women.

This study elicited the information needs, motivations, and behavioral skills related to human papillomavirus vaccine decision-making among young adult women. Interviews were conducted with college women, aged 18-26 years, and stratified by recently vaccinated ( N = 25) and unvaccinated ( N = 25). Comparative thematic analysis using the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills Model was conducted.

"We've Been Together. We Don't Have It. We're Fine." How Relationship Status Impacts Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Behavior among Young Adult Women.

Background: Vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has the potential to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality associated with genital warts and HPV-related cancers. However, HPV vaccination rates continue to be suboptimal among the "catch-up" population of 18- to 26-year-old women. One consistent risk factor for nonvaccination is being in a relationship.

Relationship status impacts primary reasons for interest in the HPV vaccine among young adult women.

Introduction: The HPV vaccine prevents HPV-related cancers and genital warts, which cause significant morbidity and mortality in the US. The vaccine is targeted toward 11-12 year old males and females, but is recommended for "catch-up" vaccination until age 26 for females. Young adult females (18-26 years) represent a unique group that may face distinct barriers to HPV vaccination, one of which is relationship status.

A comparison of network-based strategies for screening at-risk Hispanic/Latino adolescents and young adults for undiagnosed asymptomatic HIV infection.

Purpose: Hispanic/Latino adolescents and young adults are disproportionately impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic; yet little is known about the best strategies to increase HIV testing in this group. Network-based approaches are feasible and acceptable means for screening at-risk adults for HIV infection, but it is unknown whether these approaches are appropriate for at-risk young Hispanics/Latinos. Thus, we compared an alternative venue-based testing (AVT) strategy with a social and sexual network-based interviewing and HIV testing (SSNIT) strategy.

An assessment of the feasibility and acceptability of a friendship-based social network recruitment strategy to screen at-risk African American and Hispanic/Latina young women for HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a friendship-based network recruitment strategy for identifying undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection within young women's same-sex friendship networks and to determine factors that facilitated and hindered index recruiters (IRs) in recruiting female friendship network members (FNMs) as well as factors that facilitated and hindered FNMs in undergoing HIV screening. DESIGN A cross-sectional study design that incorporated dual incentives for IRs and their female FNMs. SETTING The IRs were recruited through 3 Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions sites within their Adolescent Medicine Trials Units.

Correlates of HIV testing history among urban youth recruited through venue-based testing in 15 US cities.

Background: Adolescents and young adults comprise disproportionately high percentages of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and those with undiagnosed HIV. Our objective was to determine factors associated with history of HIV testing and receipt of results among a sample of urban, high-risk, sexually active adolescents in 15 US cities.

Methods: A total of 20 to 30 sexually active youths, aged 12 to 24 years, were recruited to participate in an anonymous survey and HIV antibody testing at 2 to 3 venues per city identified by young men who have sex with men, young women of color, or intravenous drug users.

Brief report: Preliminary findings from a pilot health care transition education intervention for adolescents and young adults with special health care needs.

Objective: To assess acceptability and feasibility of a school-based health care transition education intervention designed to equip adolescents and young adults (A/YA) who have special health care needs with important health literacy, self-advocacy, and self-determination skills.

Methods: A qualitative research approach was used to assess a 40-hr curriculum implemented with 137 A/YA in 13 high school special education classes. Three focus groups were conducted with 15 students and 7 educators.

Transition of adolescents with HIV to adult care: characteristics and current practices of the adolescent trials network for HIV/AIDS interventions.

The transition process from pediatric to adult health care for adolescents with chronic diseases is always challenging and can be even more so for adolescents with HIV disease. The purpose of this study was to describe characteristics and current practices surrounding the transition of adolescents from the clinics of the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions to adult medical care. This report focuses on the processes of transition, perceived barriers and facilitators, and anecdotal reports of successes and failures.

Mobilizing communities around HIV prevention for youth: how three coalitions applied key strategies to bring about structural changes.

Increasingly, HIV prevention efforts must focus on altering features of the social and physical environment to reduce risks associated with HIV acquisition and transmission. Community coalitions provide a vehicle for bringing about sustainable structural changes. This article shares lessons and key strategies regarding how three community coalitions located in Miami and Tampa, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico engaged their respective communities in bringing about structural changes affecting policies, practices and programs related to HIV prevention for 12-24-year-olds.

Prevention with positives: a review of published research, 1998-2008.

HIV prevention education and counseling efforts have historically been directed toward those individuals considered at risk for exposure to HIV and assumed to be uninfected with HIV. In the late 1990s, prevention efforts began to include individuals who were HIV-infected. In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that HIV prevention be incorporated into the medical care of persons living with HIV.

The role of community resource assessments in the development of 15 adolescent health community-researcher partnerships.

Background: Connect to Protect (C2P): Partnerships for Youth Prevention Interventions is an initiative that alters the community's structural elements to reduce youth HIV rates.

Objectives: This study details a community resource assessment and describes how resources were evaluated in the context of local needs.

Methods: Fifteen sites developed a community resource list, conducted a brief survey, created a youth service directory, and mapped where disease prevalence and community resources intersected.

HIV prevention education and testing among youth: is there a correlation?

With the advent of highly effective antiretroviral therapies, case-finding for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is critically important, especially among high-risk youth. Our study found a significant increase in participation in voluntary HIV counseling and testing services immediately after implementation of a brief sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV educational program in alternative education and juvenile detention facilities.

Partnership selection and formation: a case study of developing adolescent health community-researcher partnerships in fifteen U.S. communities.

Purpose: This study describes the partner selection process in 15 U.S. communities developing community-researcher partnerships for the Connect to Protect (C2P): Partnerships for Youth Prevention Interventions, an initiative of the Adolescent Trials Network for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Interventions.

Effects of pro- and anti-tobacco advertising on nonsmoking adolescents' intentions to smoke.

Purpose: To determine the effects of pro- and anti-tobacco advertising on nonsmoking adolescents' intention to smoke in a single cohort.

Methods: All ninth graders at seven public high schools were invited to participate in a study on adolescent tobacco use; 59.0% participated (n = 1229; active positive parental consent required).