Teen Clubs in Namibia Are Shaping a New Future for Kids with HIV

April 16, 2018For some kids, adolescence began with a diagnosis. These health workers are helping them navigate all that comes with it.In remote northern Namibia, more than 30 teenagers have gathered at the Andara District Hospital. They ’re playing games, socializing, and just being kids.They ’re also sharing their experiences around antiretroviral medications, self-esteem, mental health, teenage pregnancies and abuse, high viral loads, and other issues many HIV-positive teens have on their minds.There are an estimated 17,000 young people living with HIV in Namibia, including hundreds in Andara district in the Kavango East region. Most of these children have lost one or both of their parents to HIV. Many more are abandoned or shunned.As I listen to the group, one boy ’s comment really sticks with me.While providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) services to children in Andara,IntraHealth International and local health workers found that HIV-positive adolescents in the district had lower rates of adherence to ART, which was resulting in higher viral loads than in local adults. Health workers also found that adolescents, especially the school-going and orphans of this group, struggled to keep their ART clinic appointments.This could be because they hadn ’t disclosed their HIV status to others. Or it could be because of stigma and discrimination, or the long distance from home or school, or lack of support from guardians.Whatever the reasons, local health workers wanted t...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: news