Research for Youth HIV/AIDS Prevention | Division of Prevention Science

Young people continue to be at the center of the effort to prevent HIV—shaping solutions through advocacy, innovation, and community care. This e-booklet highlights HIV prevention research shaped by and centered on youth, centering their experiences, voices, and leadership.

At the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, our work with youth is grounded in partnership with community members, organizations, and leaders. Together, we examine how health inequities, the ongoing impact of COVID-19, and access to resources shape HIV risk and prevention. Our research focuses on expanding access to PrEP, strengthening HIV testing and care, and leveraging technology to reach and support youth in ways that are relevant and effective.

We are committed to reducing disparities by addressing stigma, improving access to culturally responsive services, and supporting young people in making informed decisions about their health. This collection highlights research that reflects the realities of youth’s lives and advances solutions that are community-driven, equitable, and sustainable—so all young people have what they need to thrive.

Use this Research for Youth HIV/AIDS Prevention to:

✅ Learn from community-informed research
✅ Support outreach, training, and education
✅ Strengthen advocacy for equitable funding and services
✅ Inform grant writing and community-led programs
✅ Adapt or build HIV prevention efforts grounded in local needs
✅ Connect with investigators, partners, and community collaborators

Featured Videos

VIDEO. PrEP My Way: Peer-Supported, Community-Based Delivery of PrEP and Other Sexual Health Services for Young Women in Kenya. Jessica Haberer, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

VIDEO. - In this five-minute video, Parya Saberi, Ph.D., discusses the Youth 4 Cure study, their Youth Advisory Panel, and how HIV care-related research can be creatively conveyed to young adults. Watch the video.

VIDEO. Community-Based Strategies for Scale-Up of Current and New HIV Prevention Methods for Adolescents and Young People in Cape Town, South Africa. Elzette Rousseau, PhD(c), Socio-Behavioural Scientist. University of Cape Town, South Africa. Watch the video.

VIDEO. Next Steps for Implementation Science in the HIV Prevention Space for Adolescents and Young Adults in Southern Africa. Audrey Pettifor, PhD, Professor and Associate Chair of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Watch the video.

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Intervention Curricula

Y2TEC - Youth to Text or Telehealth for Engagement in HIV Care. Enhance mental health support for youth living with HIV using Y2TEC's innovative video counseling. The Y2TEC website is all about putting clinic implementation into action.
The Mpowerment Project for young adult African American and Latino men - a project by and for young adult gay and bisexual men.
Project Style - Services developed to engage and retain men of color living with HV in high-quality care.

Survey Instruments and Scales- Topics include counseling and testing, healthcare providers, risk behavior, adherence, coping, substance use and knowledge/attitudes.

Transgender Resources - The HIV Testing Toolkit, Transgender Health Factsheets and Recommendations for Inclusive Data Collection of Transgender People in HIV Prevention.

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