Reimaging an AIDS free generation: Examining youth and young adults’ personal agency and its association with HIV testing

Exploring youth and young adult’s agency may be a way to increase HIV testing and help end the HIV epidemic. We used data from the National Survey of Teens and Young Adults (15–24) on HIV/AIDS (N = 1,437). Data were collected from September 21-October 1, 2012. The sample included 748 girls and 689 boys; and the mean age is 20 years (SD: 3.02). Youth and young adults completed a 40-question survey on attitudes and knowledge about HIV. Using a multivariable logistic regression analysis, study findings suggest that focusing on protective health behaviors like the role youth can play in ending the epidemic and hearing about an AIDS-free generation were both associated with an increase in HIV testing. Our study finds that enhancing the role and influence of personal agency can inform HIV prevention and intervention programs that are specific to youth.