PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

Abstract

Because adolescence is such a challenging time, teens who are living with HIV face more personal challenges like self-awareness, identifying their identities, creating peer groups, creating future plans, and navigating their sexuality. The transition from childhood to adulthood is typically difficult in many ways and causes internal tensions that manifest as stress, bewilderment, identity crises, and other issues. They are the same as any other typical adolescent in this regard. Thousands of youngsters with HIV who would have otherwise died as children have survived into adolescence thanks to the increased efficacy and accessibility of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) over the past ten years. Simultaneously, young people continue to account for 45% of new HIV transmissions globally, despite increased understanding of the efficacious measures to prevent HIV transmission among them. In addition to the everyday struggles of adolescence,), regardless of when they were infected, have special and urgent psychosocial needs. Given the lack of empirical evidence and the dynamic nature of the disease, this analysis examines the various interventions being implemented globally to offer psychosocial support to young people living with HIV. It also summarizes the recommendations made by these organizations for future interventions.