Modes of HIV transmission among adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years in Kenya

Abstract

Understanding how HIV is acquired can inform interventions to prevent infection. We constructed a risk profile of 10–24 year olds participating in the 2012 Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey and classified them as perinatally infected if their biological mother was infected with HIV or had died, or if their father was infected with HIV or had died (for those lacking mother’s data). The remaining were classified as sexually infected if they had sex, and the remaining as parenterally infected if they had a blood transfusion. Overall, 84 (1.6%) of the 5298 10–24 year olds tested HIV positive; 9 (11%) were aged 10–14 and 75 (89%) 15–24 years. Five (56%) 10–14 year olds met criteria for perinatal infection; 4 (44%) did not meet perinatal, sexual or parenteral transmission criteria and parental HIV status was not established. Of the 75 HIV-infected, 15 to 24 year olds, 5 (7%) met perinatal transmission, 63 (84%) sexual and 2 (3%) parenteral criteria; 5 (7%) were unclassified. Perinatal transmission likely accounted for 56% and sexual transmission for 84% of infections among 10–14 year olds and 15–24 year olds, respectively. Although our definitions may have introduced some uncertainty, and with the number of infected participants being small, our findings suggest that mixed modes of HIV transmission exist among adolescents and young people.

Characteristics of adolescents aged 15-19 years living with vertically and horizontally acquired HIV in Nampula, Mozambique

“…Our data are consistent with previous findings showing higher proportions of females among the ALHIV population in SSA which reflects disproportionately higher HIV acquisition as well as higher engagement in care among young women compared to men of similar age [ 29 , 54 , 55 ]. Despite previous documentation of sex differences among ALHIV [ 3 , 29 , 31 , 56 ], only a few studies have described this population according to mode of transmission in SSA where the majority of this population reside [ 30 , 31 ]. As such, our findings present important and novel data characterizing ALHIV, which will contribute to the design of more effective services globally for this group.…”

Addressing the challenges and relational aspects of index-linked HIV testing for children and adolescents: insights from the B-GAP study in Zimbabwe

“…Other studies have also highlighted the di culties both caregivers and health care providers face in discussing parent-to-child HIV transmission with children, and this can be a substantial barrier to children being tested for HIV [21,22] [23,24]. HIV status disclosure and potential social harms; such as genderbased violence, are consistent concerns for HIV testing [25,26].…”

The State of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

“…Adolescents acquire HIV through various modes. Although global data on the proportion of adolescents who were infected through mother-to-child transmission are not available, a national study in Kenya suggests that mother-to-child transmission may account for 56% of infections among 10-to 14-year-old there [64].…”