Improving Care and Community Representation for Adolescents and Young Adults Living With HIV in West Africa

Context: HIV-positive young people aged 15 to 24 are a heterogeneous population in terms of gender, age, mode of transmission, sexual orientation and risk-taking. This most vulnerable age group is at greater risk of disruption of medical care and poor compliance, and has greater needs for psychosocial support and differentiated health services. It remains highly invisible in West African countries, both in the definition of care policies and in the allocation of resources and community representation.

Objectives: The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the improvement of retention in care, health and well-being of adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYAHIV) and to support their integration into the community space.

SO1: Support the operationalisation of the transition of HIV-infected adolescents from paediatrics to adult medical services in a stakeholder inclusive, participatory and responsive approach SO2: Contribute to the empowerment and autonomy of adolescents and young adults living with HIV in the project environment SO3: Contribute to the generation and dissemination of evidence-based information and recommendations on the situation and needs of adolescents and young adults, including key populations, living with HIV

Target: Approximately 67 caregivers∙e∙s ≥ 25 years old, of which 64%F, 30 peer-referent associations of 20-24 years old (ratio F/H= 1:1), 700 AYAHIV ≥ 15 years old, of which 47%F, in paediatrics and 500-600 AYAHIV aged 15-24 years old in adult medicine, of which 41%F, and including AYAHIV associations Summary of activities: Based on the capitalisation and pooling of experiences of partner teams, the project proposes to support the implementation of transition in a pragmatic approach, adapted to the needs of adolescents and inclusive of carers, adolescents and community peers. More globally, it contributes to improving the health, empowerment and autonomy of HIV-positive youth, including key populations, in particular through support to training, structuring and community representation of youth associations, documentation of the conditions of entry into care and their specific needs, including digital health, production and availability of evidence and recommendations in this West African context and advocacy building.

A multidisciplinary and participatory research-action project, carried out by the IRD in Senegal and financed by Sidaction, accompanies the three specific objectives of the project.

Expected impact :

• Seamless operationalisation of the supported and coordinated transition in care process and scaling up to the level of the 12 countries of the EVA network.
• Young associative actors are able to advocate to guide decision-makers, based on the evidence they have helped to produce (participatory approach)
• The ultimate change, expected at the end of the project, is that institutional stakeholders will integrate these recommendations into the national programme for the care of PLHIV, both operationally and financially.