1
|
Kose J, Howard T, Lenz C, Masaba R, Akuno J, Woelk G, Fraaij PL, Rakhmanina N. Experiences of adolescents and youth with HIV testing and linkage to care through the Red Carpet Program (RCP) in Kenya. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296786. [PMID: 38241210 PMCID: PMC10798534 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Adolescents and youth living with HIV (AYLHIV) experience worse health outcomes compared to adults. We aimed to understand the experiences of AYLHIV in care in the youth-focused Red-Carpet program in Kenya to assess the quality of service provision and identify programmatic areas for optimization. We conducted focus group discussions among 39 AYLHIV (15-24 years) and structured analysis into four thematic areas. Within the HIV testing theme, participants cited fear of positive results, confidentiality and stigma concerns, and suggested engaging the community and youth in HIV testing opportunities. Within the HIV treatment adherence theme, participants cited forgetfulness, stigma, adverse side effects, lack of family support, and treatment illiteracy as barriers to adherence. Most participants reported positive experiences with healthcare providers and peer support. In terms of the HIV status disclosure theme, AYLHIV cited concerns about their future capacity to conceive children and start families and discussed challenges with understanding HIV health implications and sharing their status with friends and partners. Youth voices informing service implementation are essential in strengthening our capacity to optimize the support for AYLHIV within the community, at schools and healthcare facilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Kose
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Nairobi, Kenya
- Erasmus MC, Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tyriesa Howard
- Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Cosima Lenz
- Technical Strategy and Innovation, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Rose Masaba
- Country Program, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Job Akuno
- Country Program, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Godfrey Woelk
- Research Department, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Pieter Leendert Fraaij
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division, Erasmus MC-Sophia/ Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natella Rakhmanina
- Technical Strategy and Innovation, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, DC, United States of America
- The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|