THE YOUNG MENS SURVEY - METHODS FOR ESTIMATING HIV SEROPREVALENCE ANDRISK-FACTORS AMONG YOUNG MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN

TRADITIONAL SAMPLING METHODS ARE UNSUITABLE for determining the levels of human immunodeficiency virus type I infection and related behavior al risk factors among young men who have sex with men. Most surveys of this hard-to-reach population have used nonprobability samples of you ng men in clinical or public settings. While these studies have reveal ed high rates of HIV infection and risk behaviors, their findings are not generalizable to broader populations of young men who have sex wit h men. To better understand the epidemiology of HIV within this popula tion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with state and local health departments, has developed a venue-based probability survey of young men who have sex with men. Conducted in se ven metropolitan areas in the United States, the Young Men's Survey co mbines outreach techniques with standard methods of sample surveys to enumerate, sample, and estimate prevalence outcomes of a population of young men who frequent public venues and who have sex with other men. Venues where young men who have sex with men are sampled include danc e clubs, bars, and street locations. At sampled venues, young men are enumerated, consecutively approached, and offered enrollment if they a re determined eligible. Young men who agree to participate in the Youn g Men's Survey are interviewed, counseled, and tested for human immuno deficiency virus, hepatitis B, and syphilis in vans parked near sample d venues. The Young Men's Survey provides data on the locations and ti mes at which demographic and behavioral subgroups of young men who hav e sex with men may be targeted for prevention activities. Behaviors an d psychosocial factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus in fection can be used to design culturally relevant and age-specific pre vention activities for young men who have sex with men.