%0 Journal Article
%T Understanding Perceptions to Improve Intervention: HIV Risk Behavior, Testing and Prep Uptake Among Male African American and Latinx Justice-Involved Young Adults.
%A Achebe IY
%A Campos S
%A Watkins J
%A Cadet T
%A Hickson R
%A Jones A
%A Sirias T
%A Lee J
%A Kim J
%A Elkington KS
%J J Health Care Poor Underserved
%V 35
%N 3
%D 2024
%M 39129605
%F 1.28
%X Justice-involved young adult (JIYA) men are at high risk for HIV, yet frequently do not access HIV services. A better understanding of testing behaviors and motivation, as well as facilitators and barriers to testing is necessary for treatment-as-prevention approaches to be implemented among JIYA. Seventeen JIYA men and nine staff were recruited from three alternative sentencing programs (ASPs). In-depth interviews and a staff focus group explored HIV risk and testing uptake behaviors. Narratives from JIYA demonstrated a lack of connection among HIV risk and behavior, views on testing, and knowledge of PreP. Youth and staff also disclosed various youth and environmental/structural barriers to HIV testing. The justice system may be a crucial point of intervention to reduce HIV risk and promote HIV testing with interventions targeted to the needs of JIYA.