Chapter 5:

Individual Low-Intensity Outreach Efforts

in the Adolescent SPNS Projects

As noted earlier, the 10 adolescent SPNS projects differ in how they provide outreach to individual prospective clients.

One form of individual outreach provided to prospective clients is relatively low-intensity and may be categorized as the rapid dissemination of information about the project and HIV/AIDS services through the use of brochures and brief explanations. Various other materials such as condoms may be distributed at the same time. These low-intensity individual outreach efforts are coded on group log forms. A copy of the group log form is included in Appendix II of this report.

Table 5-1
Low-Intensity Contacts
Documented Between December 1993 and March 31, 1996

Group log forms are used to capture a number of different low-intensity outreach activities. Table 5-2 defines the purpose of each group log form.

Table 5-2
Purpose of the Group Log Forms

A total of 11,074 low-intensity contacts with individuals were logged using the group log forms. Of those logged, 6,944 were with males (62.7 percent) and 3,671 (33.1 percent) were with females. The remaining 459 contacts (4.1 percent) were with individuals whose gender was not identified.

Figure 5-1 shows the percentage of low-intensity (casual) outreach contacts designated with these various purposes.

Figure 5-1. Purpose of casual contacts (N=11,074 low-intensity contacts).

• The majority of casual contacts were bar outreach at 35.6 percent.

• Phone contacts accounted for 19.9 percent of casual contacts.

Figure 5-2 below shows the age distribution of males and females at each of the low-intensity contacts across the 10 adolescent SPNS projects. The solid line is for female clients while the dashed line is for male clients.

Figure 5-2. Age distribution of low-intensity outreach contacts (N=6,944 males, N=3,671 females).¹

• The mean age for males was 18.8 years (standard deviation=3.3 years).

• The mean age for females was 18.7 years (standard deviation=3.7 years).

Table 5-3 shows the number of males and females who received different types of casual contacts. Note that the purposes for low-intensity contacts are not mutually exclusive.

Table 5-3
Purpose of Low-Intensity Contacts by Males and Females Impacted

• The majority of low-intensity contacts were made in bar outreach and group prevention activities.

• More males than females were reached through bar outreach, phone contacts, and educational lectures.

Figure 5-3. Racial and ethnic composition of casual contacts (N=6,944 males, N=3,671 females).

• Caucasian and Latino males and females accounted for the highest percentages of casual contacts.

• The third largest group was African Americans.

Table 5-4 shows the number of contacts with males of different ages and from various ethnic/racial backgrounds. Note that these numbers are not unduplicated counts because sites do not record unique identifiers for the individuals they work with in these low-intensity contacts. Thus, it is possible that individuals are represented more than one time and that the actual number of unique individuals is somewhat lower. Table 5-5 presents similar information for the females reached through low-intensity outreach activities.

Table 5-4
Number and Characteristics of Males Participating in Various Activities

Note. There were 459 individuals for whom gender was not indicated, 356 for whom age was not indicated, and 120 for whom both age and gender were not indicated. Cell numbers reflect the number of males who had the indicated characteristic and who participated in the particular activity. The number of individuals listed in the parentheses below each activity purpose corresponds to the number of individuals (male, female, or of unknown gender) who participated in the activity.

Table 5-5
Number and Characteristics of Females Participating in Various Activities

Note. There were 459 individuals for whom gender was not indicated, 356 for whom age was not indicated, and 120 for whom both age and gender were not indicated. Cell numbers reflect the number of males who had the indicated characteristic and who participated in the particular activity. The number of individuals listed in the parentheses below each activity purpose corresponds to the number of individuals (male, female, or of unknown gender) who participated in the activity.

Table 5-6 defines a number of different topics which may be discussed during the low-intensity outreach activities.

Table 5-6
Topics Discussed During Low-Intensity Contacts

Figures 5-4a and 5-4b show the percentage of casual contacts at which various topics were discussed.

Figure 5-4a. Topics of discussion at casual contacts, Part 1 (N=6,944 males, N=3,671 females).

• The most frequent topics of discussion at casual contacts were safer sex and HIV risk factors.

• HIV testing and HIV services were also commonly discussed.

Figure 5-4b. Topics of discussion at casual contacts, Part 2 (N=6,944 males, N=3,671 females).

• "Hassles" were discussed in 30.3 percent of the casual contacts with males and in 25.0 percent of the low-intensity contacts with females.

• Youth empowerment and self-identity were other popular topics.

Figure 5-5 shows the proportions of each item that were distributed during casual contacts.

Figure 5-5. Materials distributed (N=11,074 low-intensity contacts).

• Printed materials, such as brochures, pamphlets, or flyers were the items most often made available at casual contacts (70.5 percent).

• Other frequently available items were condoms and dental dams (66.4 percent).

• Bleach was the least often available item, with 14.2 percent.

Summary
As with the group activities summarized in Chapter 4, the individual outreach shown in this chapter was provided to varied individuals. It is clear from the topics discussed with outreach contacts that individuals’ needs for information, informal counseling, and other advice were addressed prior to formal enrollment in the program. Many of the outreach contacts involved discussing "hassles" with youth, frequently about items that may not seem central to the delivery of HIV services. Such complaints, however, often must be addressed to gain the trust of the potential service recipient.

¹ Note that age is unknown for 927 low-intensity contacts (285 males, 183 females, and 459 individuals whose gender is not recorded).

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