Housing as HIV Prevention: Reducing risk among homeless youth

Purpose:

The homeless youth population has disproportionate rates of HIV infection and the highest rates have consistently been reported in California. Homelessness is linked to behaviors that put youth at high risk for contracting HIV. The severity of homelessness is a determinant of high-risk behaviors. Homeless street youth have higher rates of IV drug use and risky sexual behaviors than sheltered homeless youth or housed youth. Due to these factors housing should be viewed as a form of HIV prevention. This research examines the relationship between housing status and HIV risk behaviors among homeless youth.

Methods:

Intake and service data from 1,159 youth who received services between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2006 was analyzed. Logit regression was used to model the relationship between housing status and risk behaviors while controlling for other variables. The relationship between housing status and six risk behaviors was assessed using reported living situation and high-risk drug and sexual behaviors in the 30 days prior to intake. Housing status consisted of three main categories: non-housed youth, youth housed in a restrictive setting, and youth housed in a non-restrictive setting.

Results:

In comparison to the restrictive housed youth, a non-housed youth was 5.3 times more likely to report IV drug use, 3.7 times more likely to report hard drug use, and 2.4 times more likely to report an unprotected sexual contact with an intravenous drug user. In comparison to restrictive housed youth, non-restrictive housed youth were 2.1 times more likely to report hard drug use and 1.4 times more likely to report any unprotected sexual contacts.

These findings indicate that housing is an important step in stabilizing youth and reducing their participation in high risk behaviors. As such, it is an important component in HIV prevention for this high-risk population.

Conclusions:

Homeless youth have disproportionate rates of HIV infection. This project examines the relationship between housing status and HIV risk behaviors among homeless youth. Findings indicate that housing is an important component in HIV prevention for this high-risk population.