ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the prevalence of risk behaviors associated with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a broad, street-based sample of homeless and runaway youths in New York City, and the distribution of risk behaviors and their correlation with age. It considers problematic the assumption that chronological age is an appropriate marker for structuring prevention services oriented to high-risk youth populations. These youths are least likely to be in contact with prevention services. The correlation between age and estrangement from services is of particular concern for the older segment of the street youth’s population. The fact that the particular part of the street youth population is the least likely to be in contact with AIDS care services raises both clinical and policy concerns. Youths were contacted on the streets using a time-by-location sampling plan that systematically canvassed designated sampling locations which formative ethnographic research had identified as areas in which high concentrations of these youths could be found.
