Lessons learned in engaging adolescents and young adults to end the US HIV epidemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) in the United States are disproportionately affected by HIV. Few interventions are designed to reduce new HIV infections for AYA populations or take AYA's developmental state into consideration.

SETTING: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US (EHE) priority areas in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

METHODS: Thematic synthesis of 5 EHE projects was completed. Methodologic commonalities were identified and summarized across projects to identify key lessons learned.

RESULTS: Engaging methods used by and accessible to AYA were central to study recruitment, and to the dissemination of health information for educational purposes. Lessons learned included use of social media and other creative methods for recruitment, retention, and dissemination of study activities; engaging AYA virtually and face-to-face; and ensuring equitable, timely monetary compensation and meaningful benefits to AYA participants.

CONCLUSIONS: Researchers and public health officials should incorporate AYA developmental context and experiences throughout the research and implementation process. This necessitates community and AYA-engaged research, intervention development, implementation, and dissemination. Future directions include expanding these efforts to communities outside of EHE areas and outside the United States, and ensuring that HIV research and interventions focus not just on individual AYA, but also on the systems and people that bear on their health and well-being (eg, health care providers, supportive adults, schools, laws, and policies).