Marseille 2007
| Abstract #386 - HIV Risk Perceptions, Knowledge and Risk Behaviours among Street Youth in Calgary, Canada | ||||
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Session: 6.62: Posters A (Poster) on Monday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Catherine Worthington - University of Calgary, Canada |
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| Additional Authors: Prof Bruce MacLaurin, Ms Nedra Huffey, Ms Dawn Dittman, Mr Eric Berndt, | ||||
| Aim: Street youth face a complex mix of HIV risk factors in the context of street life. The objective of this analysis is to examine the relationships among HIV risk perceptions, knowledge, behaviours and HIV/STI testing among street youth in Calgary, Canada. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Community-based research methods were used to conduct a survey with street-involved youth. The survey was developed by a team of youth/health agency representatives, youth with street experience, and university-based researchers. Trained street outreach workers collected confidential surveys at a variety of locations (in all city quadrants; indoor/outdoor gathering places; agency locations; and shelters), targeting youth with varying levels of street-involvement. For this series of analyses, the relationships among HIV risk perception, knowledge, risk behaviours and HIV/STI testing were examined using bivariate statistics. | ||||
| Results / Comments: 355 surveys were collected from street-involved participants (47% currently living on the street; of those not currently living on the street, 64% lived on the street in the past). Level of HIV knowledge was high (mean of 8.5 on a 10-point scale). Risk behaviours included no or inconsistent condom use (74%) during vaginal or anal intercourse, and injection drug use (21%). 26% had been asked to exchange sex for food or shelter (survival sex), and 27% had been asked to be involved in prostitution. 73% had tested for HIV or another sexually transmitted infection (STI), and 4 (2.1% of those who tested for HIV) reported they were HIV positive. 22% of those who were HIV negative or of unknown HIV status perceived themselves to be at high or medium risk of HIV. Those with street experiences contributing to HIV risk (no/inconsistent condom use, injection drug use, survival sex, or prostitution involvement) were significantly more likely to have tested for HIV/STIs (all p<.05). However, of the HIV street risk experiences only survival sex was significantly associated with perceived HIV risk (p<.05). HIV knowledge was not significantly related to perceived risk for contracting the HIV virus. | ||||
| Discussion: Although street youth with HIV risk experiences are more likely to get tested for HIV and/or other STIs, this contact with service professionals does not translate into heightened risk perceptions. Consistent with findings from other studies with street youth, even with high levels of HIV knowledge youth perceive generally low levels of HIV risk in the context of high HIV risk behaviours. In the constellation of accumulated street risk experiences faced by street youth, HIV risk is not a main concern. This has implications for the manner through which community and health service providers deliver services and communicate HIV risks to this vulnerable and isolated population. | ||||
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