ADHERENCE ISSUES IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH HIV

Adolescents and young adults with HIV have unique issues that impact their ability to adhere to treatment programs. Any hope of achieving “90, 90, 90” must take their barriers into account, as they are one of the most rapidly increasing populations in the HIV epidemic. Young MSM of colour account for approximately 70% of new HIV infections in the United States, and Detroit, Michigan is one of the most affected cities. We see approximately 50 newly infected youth each year and have developed several youth based adherence strategies to address barriers. Perinatally infected youth who have now reached young adult age often pose the most difficult adherence and resistance issues. This case-based workshop will give background and specific approaches for perinatally infected youth and for behaviourally infected youth, and address the differences between these two groups of youth. Home based interventions, face-time directly observed therapy, motivational interviewing based approaches, and multi-disciplinary team approaches will be explored and discussed. The workshop is designed to encourage discussion and an exchange of approaches and of experience.

Biography :

Elizabeth Secord is a Professor of Pediatrics at Wayne State University, and the Division Chief for Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital of Michigan. She has 25 years of experience treating children, adolescents and young adults with HIV. She is an Investigator in the Adolescent Trial Network and has participated in multiple studies on treatment and prevention of HIV and particularly on adherence to HIV medication. She has multiple publications on HIV and has given workshops on adolescent HIV treatment and adherence locally and nationally. She is the Medical Director for the Horizons Project in Detroit, a prevention and treatment center for adolescents and young adults with HIV, or at risk for HIV.

E-mail: esecord@med.wayne.edu

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