Disparities in HIV testing, STI testing, and associated risk factors in high school-aged youth: findings from the youth risk behavior survey.

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults aged15 and 25 have the highest rates of STIs and HIV, yet they often do not seek testing or treatment. This study examined the factors influencing HIV and STI testing among sexually active high school students using data from the 2019 and 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS), which sampled students across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Key variables included HIV and STI testing, sex, race/ethnicity, sexual identity, age of first sexual intercourse, and substance use during sex. Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression were used to identify predictors of testing. Results showed that only 14.4% of students were tested for HIV and 16.3% for other STIs. Factors associated with testing included age, number of sexual partners, and substance use. This study highlights the need for alternative methods of STI and HIV testing to improve screening rates among this at-risk age group.