Barcelona 2013
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| Abstract #329 - Pregnancy and Childbearing | ||||
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Session: 34.2: Pregnancy and Childbearing (Parallel) on Tuesday @ 14.30-16.00 in Raval Chaired by Victorio Torres, Malega Kganakga Authors: Presenting Author: Associate Prof Diane Cooper - University of Cape Town, South Africa |
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| Additional Authors: Dr. Jordi Casabona, | ||||
| Aim: In resource-limited environments in Southern Africa, an increasing number of Youth Living with HIV (YLHIV) are surviving into adolescence and young adulthood. They face challenges regarding HIV disclosure, stigma, decisions about romantic relationships, onset or recommencement of sexual activity, choice of sexual partners, and having children. This study aimed to provide formative findings on the SRH issues faced by YLHIV and identifies gaps in addressing their SRH counselling and service delivery needs. This is contributing to policies and programs aimed combating the HIV/ AIDS pandemic through positive prevention and will improve the SRHR lives of YLHIV in Southern Africa. | ||||
| Method / Issue: We completed the first of 3 semi-structured individual in-depth interviews with a cohort of 20 female and 20 male youth aged 15-21 years, living with HIV attending ARV treatment for at least 5 years in public sector HIV care system in Cape Town, South Africa. Interviews explored: impact of HIV on their lives, including their sexuality, negotiating intimate relationship, ARV adherence and HIV status disclosure; sexual risk decisions; and sources of counselling and support in SRHR issues. Ethical approval and informed consent was obtained and interviews audio-taped.Qualitative data were analyzed into key themes. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The majority of YLHIV were vertically infected. YLHIV were confronted not only with the normal turbulence of adolescence, but with another level of complexity due to physiological, psychosocial, psychosexual, intellectual, and economic challenges exacerbated by their HIV infection. They expressed resentment toward needing life-long ARV treatment. Participants expressed hope about their future and desires for relationships. Most commonly they sought intimate relations with others living with HIV. Some expressed reservations about having children. Counselling did not routinely deal with sexuality, negotiating intimate relationships or issues of contraception or safer conception. | ||||
| Discussion: Given the large numbers of YLHIV in resource-limited countries with mature HIV/AIDS epidemics in Africa, there is a critical need for age-appropriate and individually relevant counseling on life-long adherence and SRHR issues. These should be integrated into broader HIV counselling and service provision. Youth must be provided with comfortable spaces to raise issues related sexuality and reproductive issues. They also need practical information on issues of contraception and safer conception and advice on socio-economic issues. Further research will include interviews with youth of a similar age either uninfected or of unknown HIV status, about their experiences of and SRHR needs. | ||||
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