Outcomes of a Comprehensive Youth Program for HIV-infected Adolescents in Thailand

Abstract

We developed an intervention program for HIV-infected Thai adolescents with two group sessions and two individual sessions, focusing on four strategies: health knowledge, coping skills, sexual risk reduction, and life goals. An audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) was administered to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antiretroviral therapy management, reproductive health, and HIV-associated risk behavior. The program was implemented in two HIV clinics; 165 (84%) adolescents (intervention group) participated in the program; 32 (16%) completed the ACASI without participating in the group or individual sessions (nonintervention group). The median age was 14 years, and 56% were female. Baseline KAP scores of the intervention and nonintervention groups were similar. Two months after the intervention, knowledge and attitude scores increased (p <.01) in the intervention group, and the increase was sustained at 6 months. KAP scores did not change from baseline in the nonintervention group at 6 or 12 months after enrollment.

Psychosocial needs of perinatally HIV-infected youths in Thailand: lessons learnt from instructive counseling†

“…This study was a part of the Happy Teen Program that has been described elsewhere (Chokephaibulkit et al, 2015). HIV-infected adolescents aged ≥12-years-old followed at Siriraj Hospital or Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (QSNICH) and those who had been cared for at a Dhamaraksa orphanage in Lopburi Province were invited to participate in the program at either Siriraj Hospital or QSNICH.…”

“…Group sessions, mainly game-based activities covering the four strategies, were run by healthcare providers who were trained to facilitate, guide discussion, and help participants understand the key messages related to the strategies (Chokephaibulkit et al, 2015). After each group session, an IC session focusing on the same strategies was conducted by counselors at the next clinic visit.…”

“…All problems detected were discussed and recorded in a semi-structured counseling form. Instructive guidance was provided according to the Happy Teen Program Manual (Chokephaibulkit et al, 2012). Referral to specialists was available if needed.…”

“…We developed the Happy-Teen Program, a clinic-based intervention program implemented in routine clinical care, aiming to help HIV-infected adolescents who were aware of their HIV status to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for appropriate self-care, to ensure reproductive health, good ART adherence, and STI- risk reduction (Chokephaibulkit, Boon-yasidhi, Leawsrisook, Lolekha, & Nuchanard, 2012). In this report, we explored the psychological needs identified among HIV-infected youth during individual counseling (IC) sessions and a Youth Counseling Needs Survey (YCS) form.…”

The Happy Teen programme: a holistic outpatient clinic‐based approach to prepare HIV‐infected youth for the transition from paediatric to adult medical care services in Thailand

“…The HT2 programme aims to assess and improve skills and knowledge in four strategies areas consistent with the HT1 programme [9,10,12]: health knowledge, coping skills, sexual risk reduction, and life goals (Table 1) but the activities were designed for older youth. Interventions included a one‐day weekend workshop, two half‐day meetings, and three individual sessions.…”