Adolescent and Young Adult Health and Behaviors
This category contains analyses about sexual activity, substance use, mental health, and medication adherence in youth who were exposed to HIV and ARVs at birth, as well as the factors associated with these behaviors. We study sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reproductive health outcomes (such as pregnancy), and the transition to adulthood and adult health care as our participants become young adults.
How Well the HPV Vaccine Works in Young Women Born with HIV
Women living with HIV may have a high risk of getting cervical cancers associated with the Human papillomavirus (HPV). Some vaccines such as the measles vaccine don’t seem to work as well in people living with HIV. We wanted to understand if there are ways to make the vaccine work better.
How Violence May Affect Physical Health of Children Born with HIV
This study was the first to look specifically at how youth born with HIV may have changes in their physical health after being exposed to neighborhood or personal violence.
Following Young People with Perinatal HIV from Adolescence into Adulthood
In this study, we evaluated the design of the AMP Up study, which follows young adults born with HIV into adulthood. We looked at whether the study design was effective so far at keeping young adults engaged in research as they transition into adulthood.
Youth with HIV and Sexual Risk Behavior
In this study, we looked at infected youth born to mothers with HIV to see how old they were when they started having sex, whether they used condoms or communicated their HIV status to their partners, and whether they had virus that was resistant to some HIV medications.
Youth with HIV and Risk of Substance Use
In this study, we looked at risk factors for recent substance use in infected and uninfected youth born to mothers with HIV. We also compared lifetime prevalence of substance use with the general population of United States adolescents.
Risk Behaviors and HIV in Older Children and Teens
In this study of infected and uninfected youth born to mothers with HIV, we looked at prevalance of mental health issues, sexual risk behaviors, and substance use, and (for infected youth) adherence to HIV medications.
Please note that this abstract was presented at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Italy on July 18 – 23, 2010.
Medication Adherence and Viral Load in Youth with HIV
In this study, we asked infected youth born to mothers with HIV and their caregivers questions about how well the youth adhere to (take) their HIV medicines. We also measured the children's HIV viral load to confirm whether youth who reported good adherence had lower viral loads (i.e., were healthier). We looked at factors that could explain the relationship between adherence and viral load.
Behavioral and Emotional Risks in Youth with HIV and HIV Exposure
In this study, we looked at behavior problems in infected and uninfected youth born to mothers with HIV. We wanted to know whether any of these problems are related to having HIV or taking HIV medicines.