Very little is known about
the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents living with HIV
(ALHIV) in general and the needs of those in Nigeria specifically. A review was
conducted to identify the SRH of ALHIV, assess if these are different from the
SRH of adolescents who are free from the HIV virus, and from those of adults
living with HIV. Few research have been conducted on how ALHIV and AIDS deal
with sexual and reproductive health challenges faced in their everyday lives -
as adolescents and as persons living with HIV living in sub-Saharan Africa - to
help make any meaningful inferences on these differing needs.
The review
suggests that the SRH needs and practices of ALHIV may differ from that of
other adolescents and that of adults living with HIV. ALHIV would require
support to cope with sex and sexual needs, through full integration of
individualized SRH services into the HIV services received. Service providers
need to appreciate the individualistic nature of health problems of these
adolescents and address their health care from this holistic perspective.
A
‘one-size-fits-all’ approach for designing SRH programmes for ALHIV would not
be appropriate. We conclude that research evidence should inform the design and
implementation of ALHIV friendly SRH programmes services in both urban and
rural settings in Nigeria.
Full article at:
By:
1Department of Child Dental Health and
Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
2Positive Action for Treatment Access,
First floor, Holy Trinity Hospital Plaza, Adesina Street, Off Obafemi Awolowo
Way, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
3Department of Behavioral and Social
Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
4Program in Public Health, University of
California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
*For Correspondence: ku.oc.oohay@gnopkuniyot; Phone: +234 706 2920
394
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