Enabling adherence to ART among adolescents: The case of Embu Level 5 Youth Friendly Centre

By Rita Gacheri Kirema

Outline

• Background• Objective• Interventions• Results• Recommendations

Background

• Previously we used a small room located at the OPD as our youth center. This greatly affected the adolescents visiting the site as many felt it was really uncomfortable queuing with other out-patient clients and lacking enough privacy to share their issues. It was also a challenge for enhancing linkage with CCC especially to adolescent living with HIV.

• In 2011, Aphiaplus Kamili came on board to partner with Embu PGH and the site was relocated to a convenient and user-friendly location. Since the relocation many youths would now freely visit the site and the nurses at both the YFS and CCC worked together to initiate a pyscho-social support group for youths living with HIV.

• In 2012, we had 20 adolescents on treatment and are engaged in various youth activities linked with YFS.

Objectives

1. Establishment of effective youth friendly sites with supportive service providers

2. Integrating PwP messages with adolescents:-• Behavioral interventions for HIV- positive persons • Prevention of unplanned pregnancies • Knowledge of HIV status • Provision of care and treatment• STI screening and treatment• Promotion of leadership by HIV-positive individuals

Interventions

• APHIAPLUS Kamili supports a pyscho-social support group for 20 adolescent living with HIV, which is attached to Embu Youth Friendly Centre

• The support group is linked to CCC and adolescents participate in BCC interventions at community level

• The support group hold monthly feedback meetings and participate in community stigma reduction events eg. Miss Red Ribbon event and Straight Talk Campaign for Positive living

• The service providers have been trained on community PwP and provide prevention messages to clients

Results

• Sustainability: The support group has a strong linkage with youth friendly center and CCC and those who have finished secondary school have transitioned to the other peer groups at the center and engaging in sewing shaggy mats as an IGA as they await to progress to college

• Peer led approach has encouraged more youths to visit the site and boosted their self-esteem

Recommendations

• The Ministry of Health and partners to scale-up youth friendly centers and ensure PwP services are offered across the country

• Developing strategies to increase adherence among adolescents and youth

• Incorporating prevention interventions with HIV-positive clients

• Need for effective linkages and referral systems

IGA

Thank you!!