What HIV Programs Work for Adolescent Girls?

Journal of the International AIDS Society, 2011

Background: Adolescent girls face unique challenges in reducing their risk of acquiring HIV because of gender inequalities, but much of HIV programming and evaluation lacks a specific focus on female adolescents.

Journal of the International AIDS Society, 2015

Introduction: This commentary provides the rationale and makes a call for greater investment and effort to meet the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems of adolescent girls living with HIV in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). Discussion: Adolescent girls in LMIC are at a greater risk of acquiring HIV infection than their male peers. They also face a number of other serious SRH problems Á early pregnancy, pregnancy-and childbirth-related complications, unsafe abortions, sexual abuse and intimate partner violence and sexually transmitted infections. While many LMIC have made notable progress in preventing HIV in children and adults and in improving the access of these population groups to HIV treatment and care, adolescents in general and adolescent girls in particular have not received the same effort and investment. Conclusions: Much more needs to be done to implement proven approaches to prevent new HIV infections in adolescent girls in LMIC and to meet the needs of those living with HIV.

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999), 2014

The global HIV epidemic in adolescents is not controlled, and this group has not received sufficient attention in programming and research efforts addressing HIV prevention, treatment, and care. A global technical consultation on adolescents and HIV addressing services and research gaps was convened by United Nations Children's Fund and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in July 2013. Proceedings from this meeting are presented in this issue of the Supplement. Several reviews highlight poor levels of coverage of critical HIV prevention, treatment, and care interventions for adolescents, disparities in HIV prevalence among adolescent girls, and low-risk perceptions associated with risk behaviors among key risk groups. Others underscore the significance of clear national targets and strengthening data, government involvement, enhanced systems capacity and policy, engagement of community and adolescent social networks, and of mobile and internet technologies to the ...

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 2019

Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection: recommendations for a public health approach-2nd ed. 1.HIV Infections-drug therapy. 2.HIV Infections-prevention and control. 3.Anti-Retroviral Agents-therapeutic use. 4.Guideline. I.World Health Organization.

Western Journal of Nursing Research, 2010

Adolescent girls remain vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Understanding their sexual and substance use behaviors is essential to designing effective interventions to reduce their risk. In this study, baseline data were analyzed from 738 adolescent girls ages 15 to 19 years in Rochester, New York. Data on sexual behavior and substance use (lifetime, past 3 months, and most recent sexual experience) were collected. Nearly one half of recent vaginal (42%) and anal (45%) sex acts were not condom protected; 39% had a prior sexually transmitted infection (STI) and 12% were currently infected with an STI. Approximately one third (31%) of girls had more than one sex partner in the past 3 months. Girls with multiple partners reported that their recent sexual experiences were more likely to involve drug and alcohol use by themselves and partners. Adolescent girls, particularly those with multiple sexual partners, continue to report high-risk sexual behaviors and nee...

Current HIV Research, 2014

Adolescent girls throughout the globe are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. In the U.S., sexually-active, adolescent girls in urban settings are at elevated risk for HIV. The purpose of this study was to describe a theoreticallydriven, HIV prevention intervention tailored for adolescent girls and evaluate its effectiveness in reducing sexually-risky behaviors. Sexually-active urban adolescent girls (n=738) recruited in a mid-size, northeastern U.S. city were recruited for a randomized controlled trial and participated in a theory-based, sexual risk reduction intervention or a structurallyequivalent health promotion control group. Preferred sexual risk-reduction strategies were collected using ACASI at baseline, then at 3, 6 and 12-months post-intervention. The manualized interventions included four small group sessions and two booster sessions all of which included information, motivational and behavioral skill constructs. Facilitators were trained in motivational interviewing and incorporated this technique throughout the sessions. Relative to girls in the control group, girls receiving the sexual risk-reduction intervention were more likely to increase the number of sexual-risk reduction strategies at post-intervention; however, girls in the control group also increased the number of strategies used though not at the same rate. Theory-based, HIV interventions tailored to adolescent girls can help increase sexual riskreduction behaviors and provide girls with a menu of options to employ. Due to the manualized structure of this randomized controlled trial, the intervention could be modified to meet the needs of adolescent girls throughout the world. Trial Registration: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 00161343).

Research in Nursing & Health, 2005

The purposes of this pilot study were (a) to assess the feasibility of a community-based, small group HIV risk reduction intervention with adolescent girls, and (b) to obtain preliminary evidence of the efficacy of this theoretically-guided intervention using a controlled design. The feasibility of the intervention was demonstrated by successfully implementing it with 33 sexually-active, single girls. Preliminary evidence of the efficacy of the intervention was obtained using a randomized trial with 62 sexually-active, single girls. Data obtained at a 3-month follow-up assessment showed that girls who received the HIV-related intervention improved their HIV-related knowledge and enhanced their motivation for risk reduction compared to girls who received a control (health promotion) intervention. Effect sizes suggest that the HIV intervention also reduced several risk behaviors (e.g., vaginal sex without a condom, giving oral sex, and alcohol and drug use before sex). Challenges to implementation and suggestions for intervention enhancement are discussed.

2025

HIV infection remains a significant health threat for young girls, particularly in low-income regions where economic and social vulnerabilities contribute to their increased risk of transmission. This review explores the role of economic empowerment and social support programs in preventing HIV among young girls, emphasizing the need for a multifaceted approach. Economic empowerment through education, vocational training, and financial independence can help reduce dependence on transactional sex, while social support programs, including mentorship and peer networks, provide emotional resilience and improve decision-making. Programs that integrate both economic and social interventions have proven successful in reducing HIV vulnerability by addressing the root causes of risk, such as gender inequality and lack of access to resources. This review highlights several successful models, including microfinance initiatives and community-based support systems, which have helped young girls avoid high-risk behaviors and delay sexual initiation. Moreover, the promotion of gender equality and challenging harmful societal norms is crucial in protecting young girls from sexual violence and exploitation, which are major drivers of HIV transmission in many communities.

Journal of Adolescent Health, 2010

have no prior HIV testing and not know their results (p < .001). Subjects receiving any health care in the past year were less likely to have no prior testing (p ¼ .02), but didn't differ according to knowledge of status. Conclusions: This study shows that many youth at high risk for HIV are not being tested. A better understanding of high-risk youth who have not been tested may help direct targeted outreach to increase testing behaviors.

PLOS ONE, 2018

In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are 5 to 14 times more likely to be infected with HIV than their male peers. Every day, more than 750 AGYW are infected with HIV. Many factors make girls and young women particularly vulnerable to HIV, including gender-based violence, exclusion from economic opportunities, and a lack of access to secondary school. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is dedicating significant resources through the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) partnership to impact the lives of women and girls based on PEPFAR's mission to help countries achieve epidemic control of HIV/AIDS. The data show that new HIV infections must be reduced in AGYW, or the global community risks losing the extensive progress made towards reaching epidemic control. With support from PEPFAR and private sector partners-the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gilead Sciences, Girl Effect, Johnson & Johnson and ViiV Healthcare, DREAMS works together with partner governments to deliver a core package of interventions that combines evidence-based approaches that go beyond the health sector, addressing the structural drivers that directly and indirectly increase girls' HIV risk. Not only is DREAMS an effort to reduce new HIV infections, but it aims to reduce other critical vulnerabilities such as gender-based violence. When girls and young women thrive, the effects are felt throughout their families, communities and countries.