Healthy Choices to Promote Health and Reduce Risk in HIV-Infected Youth

Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV infection as documented by professional referral and medical record review. HIV+ participants who are self-referred and not in medical care will be required to provide documentation of test results.
• Males or females between the age of 16 years and 0 days and 24 years and 364 days at the time of study enrollment.

• Reports having ever engaged in at least 2 of the following 3 behaviors based on screening questionnaire:

  • taken prescribed antiretroviral medications, OR been told by his/her physician that he/she should be on antiretroviral medications (whether he/she takes them or not);
  • vaginal or anal sex, OR
  • alcohol or drug use.

• At least one of the 3 aforementioned behaviors are currently at a problem level, based on screening questionnaire:

  • taking currently prescribed antiretroviral medications <90 % of the time in the last month,
  • having unprotected intercourse within the last 3 months,
  • demonstrating problem level alcohol and/or drug use as measured during screening.
• Able to understand spoken and written English sufficiently to provide consent/assent and be interviewed and participate in study intervention.
• Not intending to relocate out of the current geographical area for the duration of study participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of any psychiatric thought disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder).
• Currently involved in behavioral research (assessment or intervention) targeting adherence, sexual risk, or alcohol and/or drug substance abuse OR currently involved in a substance abuse treatment program.