Connect to Protect Partnerships for Youth Prevention Interventions: Phase II

• Ascertain specific community venues where at-risk youth can be recruited for interventions within the high-risk areas identified in the first Phase of the study [ Time Frame: One time assessment at 10 months ]
  The outcome measure will be assessed using results from: (a) Phase I mapping; (b) Phase II interviews with HIV-infected youth; and (c) Phase II Brief Venue Interviews (BVIs). Input from community partners and ethnographic procedures will add critical information.
• Describe HIV risk behaviors of adolescents and young adults recruited from targeted venues [ Time Frame: One time assessment at 10 months ]
  The outcome measure will be assessed by conducting HIV serosurveys at each venue identified with youth whose HIV status is unknown.
• Describe social networks of adolescents and young adults recruited from targeted venues [ Time Frame: One time assessment at 10 months ]
  The outcome measure will be assessed by conducting HIV serosurveys at each venue identified with youth whose HIV status is unknown.
• Describe HIV seroprevalence of adolescents and young adults recruited from targeted venues [ Time Frame: One time assessment at 10 months ]
  The outcome measure will be assessed by conducting HIV serosurveys at each venue identified with youth whose HIV status is unknown.
• Assess the characteristics of the community-researcher partnerships [ Time Frame: One time assessment at 10 months ]
  The outcome measure will be assessed by conducting interviews with C2P staff and their community partners. Questionnaires will be completed by both parties and detailed documentation kept.
• Assess quality of the community-researcher partnerships [ Time Frame: One time assessment at 10 months ]
  The outcome measure will be assessed by conducting interviews with C2P staff and their community partners. Questionnaires will be completed by both parties and detailed documentation kept.
• Assess outcomes of the community-researcher partnerships [ Time Frame: One time assessment at 10 months ]
  The outcome measure will be assessed by conducting interviews with C2P staff and their community partners. Questionnaires will be completed by both parties and detailed documentation kept.

This is Phase II of a three stage project whose overall goals are to develop viable community-based HIV prevention interventions and to form and maintain the necessary community collaborations to support such Adolescent Trials Network (ATN) research activities.

This phase will describe specific locations within high-risk areas where youth, ages 12-24, spend time. HIV risk behaviors, social networking patterns and HIV prevalence among youth at these venues will be assessed by administering anonymous computerized interviews to eligible and willing youth. This information will be shared with community partners during scheduled working group meetings.

This is Phase II of a three stage project whose overall goals are to develop viable community-based HIV prevention interventions and to form and maintain the necessary community collaborations to support such ATN research activities.

During this phase, each ATN site will gather additional information within high-risk areas and solicit community partner input to ultimately pinpoint the specific locations where at-risk youths, ages 12-24, may be recruited for interventions. This will be done by the following methods:

Venues will be identified by HIV+ youth at the ATN site by participation in an anonymous computerized interview. Site staff will then perform brief venue interviews (BVIs) at selected venues to assess the potential yield of youths 12-24 years old. Community partners will also provide the site staff with information on known high-risk venues. High-risk venues will further be identified by the results of anonymous computerized interviews and HIV assays obtained from eligible and willing youth participants at the venues. The interviews will gather information on HIV risk behaviors, social networking patterns and HIV prevalence among youths at these venues. This information will be shared with community partners during scheduled working group meetings.

• HIV Infected Youth in Treatment/Care
  HIV infected youth in treatment/care will be interviewed using Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Administered Interview ACASI technology to reveal possible venues where youth at high risk for acquiring the disease may be found (N = 20-30 individuals per ATN site).
• BVI Individuals
  Additional data will be gathered on potential recruitment venues by administering a brief venue interview (BVI) to individuals who appear to be between 12 and 24 years old (N = unlimited individuals during 3-5 assessment periods per venue each lasting 5 hours).
• HIV Serosurvey Individuals
  HIV Serosurvey Individuals Anonymous structured interview using ACASI technology and an anonymous HIV antibody assay will be administered to 20-30 young women at 2-3 targeted locations and 20-30 young men at 2-3 targeted locations whose HIV status is unknown (N = 160-360 individuals per ATN site)..

Inclusion Criteria:

Index Subjects:

• Documented HIV-infection
• Acquisition of HIV after age 9 years
• Verbal confirmation of 12-24 years of age
• Verbal report of having engaged in sexual activity (vaginal, anal and/or oral sex) within the past 12 months
• Ability to understand and willingness to provide informed consent/assent

BVI subjects:

• Youths who appear to be 12-24 years old

HIV Serosurvey subjects at the venues:

• Verbal confirmation of 12-24 years of age
• Verbal report of having engaged in sexual activity (vaginal, anal and/or oral sex) within the past 12 months
• Ability to understand and willingness to provide informed consent/assent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Visibly distraught and/or emotionally unstable (i.e. depressive mood, exhibiting manic, suicidal or violent behavior, etc.)
• Visibly intoxicated or under the influence of psychoactive agents
• Clinically presents as acutely ill

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)