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Volume 4
Journal of HIV & Retro Virus
STD 2018
December 03-04, 2018
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
December 03-04, 2018 Toronto, Canada
2
nd
International Conference on
Emotional and mental stability a tool to adolescent and young people living with HIV andAIDS adherence
issues
Benjamin Odey and Somefun Esther
APIN Public Health Initiative, Nigeria
A
dolescent and young people (15-24 years) living with HIV not only deal with their physical health but also their emotional
health, psychological stability, disclosure and stigma. Although some adolescent and young people living with HIV are able to
surpass this, but when this challenge interjects with romantic relationship, self-stigma and discrimination, depression and anxiety,
adherence and retention in care is threatened. In Lagos Nigeria as at 2017, 60% of adolescent and young people living with HIV in
our network and support groups had decline in adherence and clinical appointment, which is a big threat to retention; all of which can
be traced to emotional and mental instability, resulting from self-stigmatization, inability to disclose their status and poor negotiation
skill in terms of sex, Stigma among same sex relationship. A four weeks peer education program with the aim of meeting emotional
and mental wellbeing of Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV (AYPLHIV) accessing care in four ART centers in Lagos
State Nigeria. The program extensively addressed optimum adherence strategies, negotiation skill in terms of sex and managing
relationship and life skills, self-esteem, goal setting and adaptation strategies for disclosure. The participant was closely monitored
for another three months to note any improvement in their viral load and retention in care and results achieved were amazing as
improved adherence ranging from 65% to 75%, 60% disclosed status, 85% negotiated condom use with their partner consistently
through the results were amazing but more could still be achieved. Adolescent and young people living with HIV are diverse with
different issues at different ages, more like the different stages in life, Adherence for young people is a big issue so also is starting and
retaining them on treatment; one way is to tackle this issue is to help them to fully understand how to go about their treatment and to
better understand themselves as well as the Undetectable = Untransmittable would help them focus well on adhering to treatment of
which will strengthen the realization of their abilities, coping with normal stresses of life, productive contribution to their community
and adherence. Inclusion of Peer-to-peer mentors and young Emotional and Psycho-social experts in Adolescent and young people
HIV response cannot be over emphasized. Furthermore, the Undetectable = Untransmittable concept should be promoted targeting
adolescent and young people who are negative which would help in changing their perspective on stigmatization and discrimination
so as to reduce pressure from discrimination from the environment on positive AYPLHIV.
odeybenjamin23@gmail.comJ HIV Retrovirus 2018, Volume 4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-9676-C2-006