Optimizing Retention in Care and Adherence to Anti-retroviral Therapy Amongst Adolescents Living With HIV in Rwanda

Launched by YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LABS, INC DBA YLABS · Aug 25, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

HIV has now become the leading cause of death amongst adolescents in Africa with over 2.1 million adolescents (aged 10-19 years old) living with HIV today. Increased mortality amongst HIV-infected adolescents is primarily caused by poor adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Adherence to ART is critical to suppress HIV viral load, sustain immune function, and avoid opportunistic infections and death. Poor adherence leads to suppressed immune function, treatment failure, increased morbidity and mortality with significant costs to households and health systems. In our clinic population i...

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • HIV-positive adolescents 12 to 19-years-old who are aware of their HIV-positive serostatus
• • Prescribed anti-retroviral therapy for more than 1 year
• • Has given informed consent with full capacity to study participation (plus parent/guardian consent as all participants will be under 21 years)
• • Enrolled in care at one of the study site
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • HIV-negative
• • HIV-positive but not prescribed ART or on ART for less than 1 year
• • Not enrolled in care at the HIV clinic; younger than 12 years and older than 19 years
• • No parent or named guardian who is over the age of 19 years