Work

Understanding HIV/AIDS: Psychosocial and Psychiatric Issues in Youths.

Year: 2003

Type: article

Abstract: An estimated 42 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.1 Young people account for 50% of new infections reported annually in the United States, and the number of HIV-positive teens doubles every 14 months. HIV prevention has become a public health priority. Two primary groups of children and adolescents are affected by HIV: those born with the infection and those who acquire it through risky sexual behavior. The number of new cases of vertically transmitted HIV (transmitted in utero) has decreased dramatically in the United States, but those who were infected as infants and who received a transfusion are surviving into adolescence and becoming sexually active. These youths present a host of unique challenges for HIV prevention. HIV infection among adolescents occurs mainly through unprotected sexual intercourse and other high-risk sexual behavior, such as sex with multiple partners and early sexual debut.3 Early sexual debut is associated with greater risk of HIV/STD infection because of added opportunities for sexual encounters, multiple partners, and high-risk partners. HIV is a prototypical disease for mental health professionals in understanding the interplay among biologic, genetic, and environmental factors. This article offers a social-personal framework to explain HIV-risk behaviors and reviews neurocognitive and psychiatric problems associated with HIV infection among youths.

Source: PubMed

Authors: Geri R Donenberg, Maryland Pao

Institutions: University of Illinois Chicago, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health

Language: English

Topic: HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health

Awards: Therapeutic Schools: Affect Management & HIV Risk, Families and HIV-risk among girls in psychiatric care, HIV/AIDS RISK IN CLINICALLY DISTURBED ADOLESCENTS