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Youth, Technology, and HIV: Recent Advances and Future Directions

  • HIV and Technology (J Simoni and K Horvath, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Technology, including mobile technologies and social media, offers powerful tools to reach, engage, and retain youth and young adults in HIV prevention and care interventions both in the USA and globally. In this report, we focus on HIV, technology, and youth, presenting a synthesis of recently published (Jan 2014–May 2015) observational and experimental studies relevant for understanding and intervening on HIV risk, prevention, and care. We present findings from a selection of the 66 relevant citations identified, highlighting studies that demonstrate a novel approach to technology interventions among youth in regard to content, delivery, target population, or public health impact. We discuss current trends globally and in the USA in how youth are using technology, as well as emergent research issues in this field—including the need for new theories for developing technology-based HIV interventions and new metrics of engagement, exposure, and evaluation.

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Conflict of Interest

L.B. Hightow-Weidman: Honorarium to speak for Gilead on unbranded topics, not product related; K.E. Muessig: none; J. Bauermeister: none; C. Zhang: none; S. LeGrand: grants from National Institutes of Health, substance abuse and mental health services administration, Kaiser Permanente.

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Correspondence to Lisa B. Hightow-Weidman.

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Hightow-Weidman, L.B., Muessig, K.E., Bauermeister, J. et al. Youth, Technology, and HIV: Recent Advances and Future Directions. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 12, 500–515 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-015-0280-x

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