Poster

While HIV/AIDS continues to be a pressing society concern, not all members of society are impacted the same. In other words, certain segments of the population are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and require a special focus to address their group specific needs. The posters in this session examine HIV risk behaviors, mental health factors, and substance/drug use among diverse populations. Topics covered in this poster session are as follows: (1) disparities in service access and use as a function of the clinical setting (e.g., substance treatment program); (2) barriers to antiretrovial treatment among substance users residing in different geographical locations; (3) HIV risk behaviors present among commercial sex workers; and (4) the roles that psychological health variables (e.g., optimism, depression), ethnic background, gender, substance use, and gender-based violence play.

Session Objectives: 1. Discuss current HIV risk behaviors and mental health issues among vulnerable segments of the population (e.g, substance users, commercial sex workers) that have been understudied and underserved. 2. Recognize how the impact of the HIV/AIDS impact varies for male and female youth as well as adults. 3. Develop an improved understanding of the complex issues that are unique to persons who are abuse substances and the impact of such for HIV/AIDS treatment, programs offered, and services used.