Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109372

Alwyn Cohall, MD¹, Donald Culbertson, PA², Bonnie J. Dye, MPH³, Joanna Pudil, LMSW², Doris Roman, MSW², and Sheila Dini, BS¹. (1) Harlem Health Promotion Center/Project STAY, Columbia University, 215 W. 125th St, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10027, 6462849725, atc1@columbia.edu, (2) New York Presbyterian Hospital, Project STAY, 215 W. 125th St, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10027, (3) Harlem Health Promotion Center/ Project STAY, Columbia University, 215 W. 125th St., Ground Floor, New York, NY 10027

Although at high risk for HIV and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), many youth in community settings are unaware of their status and often marginally linked to health care resources. Aggressive outreach measures are indicated to identify asymptomatic youth living with HIV and link them to appropriate medical and psychosocial services. Our study explores the feasibility of an approach combining off-site health education, counseling, urine-based screening for STIs, with follow-up of reproductive healthcare and primary care services at a community based clinic facility. Our study population includes youth ages 15-24 attending alternative high schools and youth-focused community based agencies in New York City. Youth are provided with an interactive, multimedia health education presentation which focuses on eliminating popular misconceptions about sexual health, and includes key facts about common STIs and safer sex practices. This is followed by a self-administered survey of participants detailing individual involvement in risk-taking behaviors. The surveys are then confidentially reviewed with staff members during individual counseling sessions where youth are also offered STI and HIV screening. To date, 9% of youth have screened positive for one or more STIs. All of these have been treated. Preliminary evidence suggests that an offsite educational and screening program is not only acceptable to adolescents, but can be a useful strategy in the early identification and treatment of youth who have not previously sought HIV/STI counseling services.

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