HIV infection among people in U.S. prisons was five times greater than among people not incarcerated. Youth and young adults accounted for 26% of new infections, with most being among gay and bisexual men (72%) and young Black men (57%). Correctional Health Services at Rikers Island is implementing a group intervention for young minority men (YMM) at to improve HIV knowledge and address risks. Among 59 justice-involved men, pre- intervention HIV knowledge (measured using the HIV-KQ-18 questionnaire) score was 12.8/18 and post-intervention 16.3/18. Preliminary analyses show low knowledge in effectiveness of condom materials and HIV transmission including maternal-to-child transmission. Most knowledge areas improved significantly at post-intervention
This paper will discuss preliminary findings of a HIV intervention for YMM who are at risk for HIV.
