Interagency Youth Working Group

Worldwide, more than 10 million adolescents are currently living with HIV, and many lack access to treatment and care programs. HIV-infected youth are a diverse group, and their experiences and challenges vary, particularly between those infected as adolescents and those who were infected as infants and have survived with the help of increasingly effective antiretroviral therapies. 

Research suggests that young people may have special difficulty in accepting an HIV diagnosis, adhering to treatment, and using HIV prevention practices. HIV-infected youth have cited serious challenges, including stigma, discrimination, and disclosure. Programmatic strategies to address these concerns are still emerging. Referral services and advocacy networks are developing, as well as programs that integrate youth-friendly HIV/AIDS care into other services, such as family-centered care or life-skills training. However, more research is needed to better understand how to meet the medical, social, and psychological needs of HIV-infected youth.

Recommended Resources

Tools

Prescription for Life: Take Action to Help Children Living with HIV (2008, 6 pages, 3.4 MB). The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance developed this short guide for communities, organizations, and individuals who want to help children who are living with HIV. This advocacy guide is intended for use by teachers, parents, youth leaders, and others. French and Spanish versions can also be downloaded. For more information, contact info@e-alliance.ch. (Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, 2008)

Counseling and Testing for Youth – A Manual for Providers (PDF, 496 KB). Written for service providers and counselors who work with youth, this manual provides step-by-step instructions for various counseling and testing models, helpful tips and resources, guidelines for creating a referral network, and activities for youth concerning abstinence, being faithful, and using condoms. (Family Health International, 2007)

Reports and Briefs

Increasing HIV/AIDS Therapy Adherence among Youth in Mozambique: the TAP/Pathfinder International Experience (PDF, 8 pages, 455 KB)
This document provides an overview of the World Bank-funded Treatment Acceleration Project (TAP) in Mozambique. It outlines Pathfinder's comprehensive program for youth that integrates counseling, treatment, and care to promote HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy adherence for HIV-positive youth. The program demonstrates the effective role to be played by well-trained peer advocates and their collaboration with quality youth-friendly clinical services. (Pathfinder International, 2009)

Integrating Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Services for Young People: Tools for Programming (Web document)
Integrating family planning services and HIV/AIDS services into maternal and child health programming can improve young people’s access to both information and services. This document describes how young HIV-positive clients can benefit from integrated services. (INFO Project, 2007)

Youth and the Global HIV/AIDS Pandemic (PDF, 184 KB)
This booklet summarizes global information about young people and HIV. Regional and demographic information is included, as well as summaries of the challenges faced by young people, and examples of programs which have helped to protect young people. (Advocates for Youth, 2006)

“Life Doesn’t Wait”: Romania’s Failure to Protect and Support Children and Youth Living with HIV (PDF, 961 KB)
This report documents the current circumstances of Romanian children and young people living with HIV, the government’s response to the crisis, international human rights laws and campaigns, and recommendations for the Romanian government, the European Union, and international donors. (Human Rights Watch, 2006)

HIV-Infected Youth — YouthLens 13 (PDF, 141 KB)
This research brief summarizes the specific medical, social, psychological, and programmatic needs of youth infected with HIV. Case studies of programs targeting HIV-infected youth in Africa, Europe, and North and South America are included. (Family Health International/YouthNet, 2005)

Providing Psychosocial Support to AIDS-affected Children: Operations Research Informs Programs in Zimbabwe and Rwanda (PDF, 545 KB)
This 12-page report describes findings from operations research in Rwanda and Zimbabwe on the psychosocial well-being and resilience of young people affected by HIV/AIDS. The document also reports on operations research that examined the psychosocial well-being of orphans and vulnerable children, and ways to increase their ability to adapt and cope in the face of adversity. Programmatic implications are also discussed. (Population Council/Horizons, 2005)

Guidelines and Best Practices

Antiretroviral Drugs for Treatment of HIV Infection in Adults and Adolescents in Resource-limited Settings: Recommendations for a Public Health Approach (PDF, 641 KB)
In 2005, the World Health Organization convened a group of experts to review and revise existing regulations on provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in developing countries. The group recognized the need for simple, evidence-based ART guidelines to support progress made in increasing ART provision around the world. (WHO, 2005)