Poster

When conducting research with human participant, issues of informed consent and confidentiality are of great importance, especially within the HIV/AIDS context. The focus of posters within this session concern informed consent and related issues. Recent legislation has been established regarding routine HIV testing. However, barriers to getting tested are present, and thus is discussed in several of the posters. To expand, obtaining written informed consent prior to testing may be a barrier for adults while obtaining parental consent may be a barrier for youth under the age of 18. Some of the included posters examine what variables/factors differentiate those who get tested from those who do not get tested, while others examine setting characteristics (e.g., stigma) that act as barriers. Relatedly, there is concern about standardized laboratory testing procedures to ensure efficient and reliable data collection while concomitantly adhering to governmental/funding requirements.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe issues surrounding informed consent and confidentiality among diverse populations. 2. Discuss personal experiences surrounding HIV testing and positive HIV test results. 3. Identify barriers to HIV testing among diverse, vulnerable populations.