Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Children and Youth Services Review
Publication Date
12-1-2017
Abstract
Multiple assessment studies demonstrate that juvenile offenders are at increased risk for contracting HIV and other STIs relative to their non-offending counterparts. Such data are used to support the implementation of adolescent HIV prevention interventions within the juvenile justice system. Despite the compelling data related to high rates of unprotected sexual activity, pregnancy, STIs, substance use and psychiatric symptoms, there are very few empirically supported HIV prevention interventions for this adolescent subgroup. Using our experience conducting HIV prevention research studies with court-involved, non-incarcerated (CINI) youth we identify salient and unique challenges to consider when conducting HIV prevention intervention research with this population. Obstacles to consider include lack of “buy-in” and engagement from justice staff and families about the need for youth sexual health promotion and HIV prevention services and logistical barriers (time, transportation, space) related to conducting intervention research with a community-based sample of justice-involved youth. We consider these various challenges and provide recommendations for researchers on how to overcome barriers to continue to develop evidence-based HIV prevention services for communities of youth in need.
Volume
83
First Page
201
Last Page
208
DOI
10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.042
Recommended Citation
Tolou-Shams, M., Harrison, A., Conrad, S., Johnson, S., & Brown, L. (2017). Challenges to conducting adolescent HIV prevention services research with court-involved youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 83, 201-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.042
ISSN
01907409
Funding Sponsor
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Funding Number
K23DA021532
