A Call to Develop Evidence-based Interventions to Reduce Sexually Transmitted Infections in Juvenile Justice Populations

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk, are a significant health issue for young women (ages 16-21), especially African Americans with a juvenile justice history. Studies have found that 44% of young African American women have had at least one STI compared to 24.1% for all young women. The rate of STIs among young women with juvenile justice histories, particularly African Americans, is likely much higher than their non-detained peers. Yet, there are few evidence-based interventions (EBIs) designed specifically for the detained population. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Compendium of Evidence-Based Interventions and Best Practices for HIV Prevention listed few programs that comprehensively included components related to mental health, intimate relationships and high risk sexual behaviors that would be salient for a detained population. Further, many EBIs have had limited or no long-term protective effect. We propose that interrelated factors (mental health, substance use, trauma and intimate relationships) can effectively decrease risk and increase protective behaviors for the detained population most at risk.

Bringing juvenile justice and public health systems together to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of justice-involved youth.

“…Adoption and implementation of screening measures and intervention approaches for those identified in need are lacking. Data demonstrate that justice-involved youth have greater SRH needs and risks than their general adolescent population counterparts (Gates et al, 2016); stakeholders in both the JJ and PH sectors working with these youth acknowledge this is a true need, but have different perceptions of which system is responsible to address these service gaps. Justice systems, in particular, feel that screening and/or intervention related to SRH is well outside the scope of their role in working with CINI youth and families.…”

Judges’ Perceptions of Screening, Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment for Substance Use, Mental Health, and HIV among Juveniles on Community Supervision: Results of a National Survey

“…Juvenile justice system-involved youth are at elevated risk for HIV due to high rates of risky sexual behaviors, substance use and other psychiatric disorders, and sexually transmitted diseases (Donenberg et al, 2015; Gates et al, 2016; Teplin et al, 2013). In a sample of 10,352 adolescents and young adults in juvenile justice settings (Dennis et al, 2009), several HIV-risk behaviors were common in the past 90 days, including frequent sexual activity (67%), multiple sex partners (31%), unprotected sex (27%), victimization (20%), and needle use (2%).…”

“…Nonetheless, few programs have been developed expressly for juvenile justice involved youth, which is troubling in light of their elevated risk for HIV and other STDs (Marshall, Crepaz, & O’Leary, 2010). Similar to those found in the field of substance use prevention, promising models to lower the risk of HIV among juvenile justice involved youth also incorporate interventions that bolster protective factors and reduce risk factors, such as problems related to mental health, substance use and trauma (Gates et al, 2016). …”