DIRECT EVALUATION OF ADOLESCENT HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING SERVICES

The incidence of HIV disease in adolescents is increasing. Studies ind icate this population is not receiving adequate information or support to bring about healthy behavior choices that prevent infection, reinf ection, or infection of a partner. Physicians themselves, according to a study, are providing services well below the current established gu idelines. The current study provides direct evaluation of services pro vided to youths by adolescents trained to address critical issues usin g fictional (undercover) stories at actual sites advertising HIV/AIDS counseling and testing to teenagers. Thirty-three health-care sites we re identified within the Washington, DC, area; eight were eliminated d uring the process, leaving 25 sites for appraisal. Less than 40% of th e participating clinics that advertised HIV testing qualified for reco mmendation. In addition, many female youth evaluators reported they re ceived unsolicited advice regarding abstinence or reduction of sexual activity; male evaluators did not report similar findings. Results of the study were translated into recommendations in the form of reports to those sites that chose to receive them. The authors recommend imple menting a similar study on an annual basis of similar sites with publi cation of results in order to improve staff training and maintain stan dards that will encourage adolescent and young adult clients to be tes ted and follow through for test results and appropriate education and counseling.