National Youth HIV + AIDS Awareness Day
Today’s young people are the first generation who have never known a world without HIV and AIDS. In the United States, more than 1 in 5 new HIV diagnosis are young people between 13 and 24 years old. By the end of 2016 around 51 percent of youth living with HIV were unaware that they had HIV. Gay and bisexual males accounted for most new HIV diagnosis among youth in 2015; of newly diagnosed males 54 percent were black, 25 percent Hispanic/Latino and 16 percent were white. Youth with HIV are the least likely to be linked to care of any age group.
Since 2013, National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) has been commemorated on April 10 across the country in high schools, colleges, community health organizations and more. NYHAAD is a big step towards understanding and spreading the word around about the problem of HIV +AIDS transmission among young people and celebrating the efforts that they put in fighting this battle against HIV transmission. NYHAAD is also an important day to observe because HIV + AIDS among youth is a bigger problem than many believe it to be. At the end of 2015, an estimated 60,300 youth aged 18 to 24 were living with HIV in the United States. Of these, 31,000 were living with undiagnosed HIV — the highest rate of undiagnosed HIV in any age group. Young people (aged 13-24) accounted for an estimated 21 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2016. Among youth aged 13 to 24 diagnosed with HIV in 2016, 81 percent were gay or bisexual males. In 2016, youth aged 13 to 24 represented 8 percent of total AIDS diagnoses that year. Investing in young people’s health through education and prevention is critical.
Key Challenges to Prevention
Low perception of risk. A majority of 15 to 24 year-olds in the United States responding to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey said they were not concerned about being diagnosed with HIV, which means they may not take measures to protect their health seriously.
Low rates of testing. Only 10 percent of high school students have been tested for HIV. Only 21 percent of male students who had sexual contact with other males have ever been tested for HIV.
Low rates of condom use. Nationwide, 43 percent of all sexually active high school students and 49 percent of male students who had sexual contact with other males did not use a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse.
Number of partners. One-third (33 percent) of male students who had sexual contact with other males reported sexual intercourse with 4 or more persons during their life, compared to 12 percent of all students who had ever had sexual contact
Substance use. Among the 34 percent of currently sexually active students nationwide, 22 percent had drunk alcohol or used drugs before their most recent sexual intercourse.
High rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some of the highest STI rates in the United States are among youth aged 20 to 24, especially youth of color. The presence of an STI greatly increases a person’s likelihood of acquiring or transmitting HIV.
Stigma around HIV. In a 2012 Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 84 percent of youth aged 15 to 24 said there is stigma around HIV in the United States. This could mean that they are not comfortable discussing their status with others and talking with their partners about ways to protect themselves from HIV and other STDs. Another survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation was sent out in 2017 and found that 51 percent of people say that they would be uncomfortable with having a roommate that is living with HIV. For gay and bisexual youth who are just beginning to explore their sexuality, homophobia can pose obstacles to utilizing HIV prevention services, testing, and treatment.
Inadequate sex education. The status of sexual health education varies substantially throughout the United States and is insufficient in many areas. In most states, fewer than half of high schools teach all 19 critical topics that CDC recommends for inclusion in curricula. Specifically, many curricula do not include prevention information that relates to the needs of young gay and bisexual men. In addition, sex education is not starting early enough. Finally, sex education has been declining over time across the country. The percentage of U.S. schools in which students are required to receive instruction on HIV prevention decreased from 64 percent in 2000 to 41 percent in 2014.
Feelings of isolation. Gay and bisexual high school students may engage in risky sexual behaviors and substance abuse because they feel isolated and lack support. They are more likely than heterosexual youth to experience bullying and other forms of violence, which can lead to mental distress and engagement in risk behaviors that are associated HIV transmission.
How CAP is Advancing Prevention in Our Community
As you can see, prevention in our youth is challenging, especially for young LGBTQIA+ youth. In order to help address these disparities, CAP has worked collaboratively with our friends at New Avenues for Youth’s Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) to provide compassionate, affirming, directed testing and treatment services to these young folks. We currently provide once a month drop-in services with SMYRC at their downtown location and additional support services. This past week, we even provided incentivized testing for youth who were interested in getting tests performed with $15 Fred Meyers gift cards. We have been fortunate to have an incredible partnership with staff over at SMYRC for the last several years, and our staff is was very passionate about group discussions with the youth about sexual health, PrEP, and topics like consent. “CAP has consistently provided us with on-site discussion groups, queer sex-ed for youth, HIV prevention education, rapid HIV testing onsite, and recently have joined us in onsite testing at the mobile groups we do at different New Avenues for Youth Programs. For example last month we had two testers at our drop in day center where houseless youth can get 3 meals a day, showers, laundry and programs. We went walking around the block to offer people free testing and to learn about SMYRC/CAP, and we had a good turnout! People in [CAP’s] program have even joined us on holidays such as "queermas" day as we call it just to be a familiar face when it matters most. CAP also helps us behind the scene on a weekly basis with Insurance Navigation, and PrEP with your navigator Axel. We so love our partnership and wouldn't be here without you,” says Kashi Tamang (they/them), SMYRC Program Lead. This partnership with SMYRC allows us to also equip these young folks with the tools and resources to continue to manage and take charge of their sexual health, and we are so grateful to be a part of it!
Beyond our partnership with SMYRC, CAP works diligently internally to help continue to provide services for young folks living with or impacted by HIV through our Camp KC program. Camp KC (Kids Connection!) is a fun and safe summer camp experience for children ages 5-15 who are living with and/or affected by HIV + AIDS. The primary experience of Camp KC is a free, week-long overnight camp located on the Oregon Coast that is supported by donations, grants, and approximately 50 volunteers. Some camp activities include swimming in the lake, arts and crafts, music and dance classes, nature hikes, canoeing on the lake, drama, and archery. Additionally, we have a ton of all-camp activities that typically occur in the evenings after dinner. These activities include a camp dance, a daytime carnival with games and prizes, a movie night outside, and Camp KC’s Got Talent (talent show). Campers and volunteers sign up to show the rest of Camp KC their talents, from singing and dancing to comedy and juggling. We love seeing everyone’s unique talents! In addition, Camp KC supports these Campers year-round with seasonal events, such a s pumpkin carving at halloween, and a robust gift program during the winter holidays.
Prevention in youth populations is challenging, but through creative programming, strategic community partnerships, and help from community members like you, we can work to help stop HIV transmission and end HIV related stigma. If you would like to learn more about SMYRC, you can do so by visiting http://www.smyrc.org or by contacting smyrcinfo@newavenues.org . If you would like to learn more about Camp KC, you can do so at www.capnw.org/camp-kc or by contacting campkc@capnw.org
About Cascade AIDS Project
CAP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis. As the oldest and largest community-based HIV services provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, we seek to support and empower all people with or affected by HIV, reduce stigma, and provide the LGBTQ+ community with compassionate healthcare. We do so by helping to ensure the health and well-being of our program participants each year through health, housing, and other social services. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017. More information can be found at www.capnw.org.
About SMRYC
SMYRC provides a safe, supervised, harassment-free space for sexual and gender minority youth ages 13-23 who participate in positive activities like art, music, community organizing, open mic nights, drag shows, and support groups and receive services including case management, counseling, education, and more. With the goals of increasing academic success and access to jobs, reducing poverty and school drop-out, SMYRC honors, empowers, and supports LGBTQ youth to be their best selves and become leaders in their communities.
