HIV-Positive Youth's Perspectives on the Internet and eHealth
Author Information
Author(s): Sarah Flicker, Eudice Goldberg, Stanley Read, Tiffany Veinot, Alex McClelland, Paul Saulnier, Harvey Skinner
Primary Institution: University of Toronto
Hypothesis
How do HIV-positive youth perceive the Internet as a means for health promotion and service delivery?
Conclusion
The Internet provides an important way to reach young people living with HIV for health services and promotion programs.
Supporting Evidence
- All youth interviewed had used the Internet.
- 34% reported being online daily.
- Many youth preferred using the Internet for communication and entertainment rather than health information.
- Privacy concerns limited health information seeking behavior.
- Most youth expressed interest in a dedicated eHealth site for HIV-positive youth.
Takeaway
Young people with HIV use the Internet a lot, but they don't often look for health information online. They want a special website just for them.
Methodology
A community-based participatory approach with qualitative interviews and demographic surveys.
Potential Biases
Participants may have been more connected to health services, influencing their Internet access and usage.
Limitations
The sample may not represent all HIV-positive youth as participants were recruited from health and social service organizations.
Participant Demographics
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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