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

Abstract #114165

Nikki A. Herman-Shipley, PhD(abd), Department of Preventive Medicine, Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 1910 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 650, Los Angeles, CA 90026, 310-991-1683, hermansh@scf.usc.edu, Thomas W. Valente, PhD, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, 1000 South Fremont, Unit 8, Room 5133, Alhambra, CA 91803, and Tamara Petro, MPH, Program Director, Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, 47 Clapboard Hill Road, Suite 6, Guilford, CT 06437.

The U.S. Juvenile Justice system comprises a large number of detained youth with a very low prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS (~ 1%); however, their documented widespread practice of risky behaviors, along with their lack of health care services, puts them at high risk of future infection. Despite the fact that juvenile detention facilities appear to provide an excellent opportunity to introduce risk reduction strategies to a readily accessible high risk population, it is seldom taken.

This presentation will a) describe and review all HIV/AIDS interventions targeting incarcerated youth; b) determine the efficacy of each of the program's design, strategies, measurement tools, and outcomes; and, c) discuss the complexities and disadvantages of implementing behavior change programs within the Juvenile Justice System. Studies and reports generated from computerized literature searches found that almost all U.S. Juvenile Correctional Institutes are implementing some type of an HIV/AIDS education program as part of their regular curriculum. However, only fourteen of these HIV/AIDS programs report including behavior change strategies. Furthermore, only 11 (75%) of these interventions included any type of evaluation. These data suggest that incarcerated youth do not have many opportunities for positive experiences to empower and support changing behaviors and in-turn reducing their risk of HIV infection. After release into the community, sustaining these behaviors may be insurmountable. Despite this, there are very few HIV education prevention programs in detention facilities throughout the U.S.

Learning Objectives: GOALS/DESIRED OUTCOMES

The goal of this session is to assist participants in developing effective HIV/AIDS prevention intervention programs for incarcerated, probationary and at-risk youth. What are the important strategies and necessary theories needed in developing an effective intervention prevention targeting these high risk youth? OBJECTIVES By the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to
• Describe the risk-taking behaviors among youth detained by the U.S. Juvenile Justice system.
• Identify the commonalities that are attributed to risk reduction behavior among participants of these HIV/AIDS prevention interventions.
• Discuss the barriers and constraints of implementing programs within the U.S. Juvenile Justice System.
• Determine the necessary components required for a successful behavior change program targeting incarcerated youth.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Correctional Institutions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:


I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation

Reaching Out with Prevention and Service to Individuals At-risk or Living With HIV/AIDS

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA