Meeting the Needs of HIV-Positive Youth

Issues: As the topic of sexuality education in the U.S. grows in publicity, more questions surface concerning the public health impacts of various approaches. Current programs in place today impact HIV-positive youth and parents in different ways. However, there is a dearth of research documenting the voices of HIV-positive youth and parents regarding their experiences with these varying sexuality education programs.

Description: This presentation provides an analysis of the current programs in place in the U.S. – specifically abstinence-only, abstinence-based, and comprehensive programs – and illustrates how they impact HIV-positive youth and parents. To do this, AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families conducted qualitative research via one-on-one interviews with HIV-positive youth and parents living in various communities throughout the U.S.

Results: Testimonies collected indicated that youth and parents were frustrated with an abstinence-only approach. Many participants cited the programs' lack of compassion and understanding for HIV-positive youth and parents, and what it means to live a healthy sexual life with HIV. Other participants cited the programs' disregard for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) youth and the amount of stigmatization towards these youth as well as towards youth and parents who are HIV positive.

Recommendations: The current programs supported through the federal government should be enhanced to reflect the needs of HIV-positive youth and youth with HIV-positive parents - by including medically-accurate information about HIV disease, offering science-based and comprehensive messages to prevent HIV, and eliminating practices that encourage stigmatization and social isolation of HIV-positive and LGBT youth and their families.