"I just keep quiet about it and act as if everything is alright" - The cascade from trauma to disengagement among adolescents living with HIV in western Kenya

CONCLUSIONS: Trauma is a major factor underlying disengagement from HIV care among Kenyan adolescents. We describe a cascade of factors representing areas for intervention to support mental health and retention in HIV care. These include not only the provision of mental healthcare, but also preventing or addressing violence, trauma and stigma, and reinforcing social and familial support surrounding vulnerable adolescents. In this conceptualization, supporting retention in HIV care requires a trauma-informed approach, both in the individualized care of ALHIV and in the development of strategies and policies to support adolescent health outcomes.PMID:33838007 | PMC:PMC8035676 | DOI:10.1002/jia2.25695

Source: Journal of the International AIDS Society - April 10, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Leslie A Enane Edith Apondi Mark Omollo Judith J Toromo Salim Bakari Josephine Aluoch Clemette Morris Rami Kantor Paula Braitstein J Dennis Fortenberry Winstone M Nyandiko Kara Wools-Kaloustian Batya Elul Rachel C Vreeman Source Type: research