Preliminary results from Hlanganani (Coming Together): A structured support group for HIV-infected adolescents piloted in Cape Town, South Africa

Kate Snyder, Melissa Wallace, Zoe Duby, Lisa D.H. Aquino, Stephen Stafford, Sybil Hosek, Donna Futterman and Linda-Gail Bekker

Children and Youth Services Review, 2014, vol. 45, issue C, 114-121

Abstract: HIV positive adolescents require unique physical and emotional care as they navigate not only developmental challenges but also HIV-related issues including stigma, prevention, and maintaining long-term HIV health. The Hlanganani Program was created to address these issues and engage adolescents in care using a dynamic, 3-session cognitive behavioral support group facilitated by laypersons. Youth 16 to 24years old, diagnosed within the previous 12months, were invited to attend three sessions in clinics or other community spaces. Topics included: 1.) Coping and support; 2.) HIV health (including CD4 counts and ARVs); and 3.) HIV prevention. The program was developed and evaluated for feasibility, acceptability and improvements in participants' knowledge, attitudes and behavior. Impact on linkage to care was measured using participant clinic folders from two local youth clinics and was defined as attending at least one ART clinic visit if eligible (CD4 <200cells/mm3). 109 participants were enrolled, and follow-up assessments were matched among those retained for 3 sessions (n=65 compared). Self-reported safe sex practices demonstrated improvement with the proportion of participants affirming condom use at last sex rising from 71% to 83% at follow-up (p=.049). Linkage to care was met by 100% of all ART eligible participants (n=13), compared to 58% in the comparison group (n=31). Hlanganani demonstrated that it would be feasible and acceptable to recruit HIV positive adolescents into a support group setting, with measurable improvements in short-term behavioral outcomes including safe sex and linkage to ART care. Results from this pilot show promise that a structured support group for newly diagnosed HIV+ youth could be effective as an entry point for long-term HIV wellness and care.

Keywords: HIV; Adolescents; Support group; South Africa; Disclosure; Antiretroviral treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740914001339
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:45:y:2014:i:c:p:114-121

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.03.027

Access Statistics for this article

Children and Youth Services Review is currently edited by Duncan Lindsey

More articles in Children and Youth Services Review from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().