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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

‘Everyone has a secret they keep close to their hearts’: challenges faced by adolescents living with HIV infection at the Kenyan coast

Authors: Amina Abubakar, Fons J. R. Van de Vijver, Ronald Fischer, Amin S. Hassan, Joseph K Gona, Judith Tumaini Dzombo, Grace Bomu, Khamis Katana, Charles R. Newton

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

The upsurge in the uptake of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to a significant increase in the survival of vertically acquired HIV infected children, many of whom are currently living into adolescence and early adulthood. However little if anything is known of the lived experiences and the challenges faced by HIV positive adolescents in the African context. We set out to investigate psychosocial challenges faced by HIV infected adolescents on the Kenyan coast.

Methods

A total of 44 participants (12 HIV-infected adolescents, 7 HIV uninfected adolescents, and 25 key informants) took part in this qualitative study, using individually administered in-depth interviews. A framework approach was used to analyze the data using NVIVO software.

Results

We observed that the challenges faced by adolescents in rural Kenya could be placed into six major themes: poverty, poor mental and physical health, the lack of a school system that is responsive to their needs, challenges in how to disclose to peers and family members, high levels of stigma in its various forms, and challenges of medical adherence leading to the need for close monitoring.

Conclusion

In this African community, vertically acquired HIV-infected adolescents face a complex set of social, economic and medical challenges. Our study points to the urgent need to develop multisectorial intervention support programmes to fully address these challenges.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
‘Everyone has a secret they keep close to their hearts’: challenges faced by adolescents living with HIV infection at the Kenyan coast
Authors
Amina Abubakar
Fons J. R. Van de Vijver
Ronald Fischer
Amin S. Hassan
Joseph K Gona
Judith Tumaini Dzombo
Grace Bomu
Khamis Katana
Charles R. Newton
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2854-y

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