Factors Related to Delayed Time for HIV Care Among Youth Living with HIV: a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Social Support Networks and Access to Care

Purpose: This research explored the pattern of influence social support networks had on delayed time between diagnosis and first doctor’s visit after diagnosis of HIV in youth. Results showed that factors related to receiving a referral were prosocial peer behaviors and excessive fibbing in the past 6 months. The study identified sources of social support and described the relationship between the source of support and time of first doctor’s visit after HIV diagnosis. Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed on all youth (N=347) and specifically on those seeking care. Methodology: Historical data were extracted from the baseline dataset of a quasi-experimental prospective study conducted between 1994-1996 of youth living with HIV in four metropolitan cities in the U.S. The sample for this study consisted of youth living with HIV who self-reported that they were seen by a doctor or a nurse after their diagnosis or given a referral to do so after they were diagnosed to be HIV positive. Methodology: Historical data were extracted from the baseline dataset of a quasi-experimental prospective study conducted between 1994-1996 of youth living with HIV in four metropolitan cities in the U.S. The sample for this study consisted of youth living with HIV who self-reported that they were seen by a doctor or a nurse after their diagnosis or given a referral to do so after they were diagnosed to be HIV positive. Analyses were performed on variables associated with time of first doctor’s visit after diagnosis such as age, gender, ethnicity, religion, education, employment. homelessness/marginally housed, service site, stage of illness, disclosure of HIV status. disclosure of sexual orientation, mental health characteristics, amount of social support regarding their illness, frequency of contact with social network members, and peer behaviors. Significant predictors of receiving a referral for care were being female, having HIV symptoms, living with extended family members, and education level. Key findings were that youth who fibbed excessively in the past 6 months took longer (22 days) to visit a health provider (p\u3c.05) and that peer network interaction influenced health care seeking behavior and prosocial peer behaviors took longer to visit a provider (27 days)