Adolescent lives matter

Abstract

Purpose of reviewMany of the almost 2 million HIV infections that occurred globally in the last year occurred among adolescents and young people, particularly those from East and Southern Africa and within key populations. Global HIV epidemic control will require that new infections among these youth populations be curtailed. This review examines the most effective prevention approaches to reach these adolescent populations in the next 5 years.Recent findingsAdolescents are in transition and are developmentally unique. They have specific needs and challenges, which if not addressed will result in less than successful interventions. Tailored, layered, combination prevention packages that take into account specific adolescent needs and involve biomedical, behavioural and structural components are recommended. These packages should be designed for and with the meaningful input of adolescents, and involve their peers in their implementation and execution. Where possible, age-appropriate health and social interventions that go beyond HIV should be bundled and offered in a variety of community-based venues that are already acceptable to and frequented by adolescents.SummaryIt is urgent that we reach adolescents globally with the most effective HIV prevention approaches. HIV prevention investment in this population has immediate and longer-term benefits.

Differing psychological vulnerabilities among behaviourally and perinatally HIV infected adolescents in South Africa – implications for targeted health service provision

“…The results presented show many of the challenges faced by adolescents living with HIV, including a high level of orphanhood and parental death. There is a global call to focus on the particular needs of adolescents (Pettifor et al 2018, Bekker 2015 and this data highlights such needs. The group in this study logged multiple deprivations which needs to be considered in programming, with 68% lacking in the very basic of necessities.…”

HIV prevention is not all about HIV – using a discrete choice experiment among women to model how the uptake and effectiveness of HIV prevention products may also rely on pregnancy and STI protection

“…We undertook separate analyses for adolescent and adult women because these subgroups have differing levels of HIV risk [ 46 , 47 ] and sexual risk behaviours [ 46 ], with the adverse effects of these risks being different [ 48 ]. We also expected them to have different preferences for sexual and reproductive health products, dissimilar levels of health service utilisation [ 46 ], and would need tailored interventions to meet their needs [ 49 ]. Uptake projections were produced for women using or not using condoms in their last sex act, which were combined to give the overall degree to which each product would be used.…”

Mind the Gap: HIV Prevention Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…Current and emerging prevention modalities can only be effective for a particular priority population when implementation processes are informed by members of that group. HIV prevention efforts targeting YBMSM should be developed and implemented based on the voices, perspectives, and priorities of YBMSM themselves [ 85 ]. Several models of community-informed practices including engaging priority populations in the development of prevention messages and campaigns [ 86 ], incorporation of youth or community advisory boards to inform clinical programming [ 87 ], and integration of peer or near-peer navigators with shared identity or experiences with YBMSM [ 88 ] have demonstrated promising effects.…”