Health Care Experiences of Youth Living With HIV Who Were Lost to Follow-up in Western Kenya

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2019 Sep-Oct;30(5):539-547. doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000044.

Abstract

HIV is the leading cause of mortality for youth in sub-Saharan Africa. Youth are more likely than any other age group to be lost to follow-up (LTFU) from care. We investigated the health care-related experiences of youth living with HIV (YLWH) who were LTFU (i.e., had not returned to care for at least 4 months), as well as the perceptions of the community health workers who supported them. Data were collected from two focus group discussions with community health workers (n = 18) who worked with YLWH and 27 semistructured interviews with YLWH (ages 15-21 years) who were LTFU. Attitudes toward health care were presented in the context of a social-ecological model. Respondents highlighted the need for improved youth-oriented services, including youth-friendly clinics and training for care providers about specific needs of YLWH. Researchers should develop and test the impact of these interventions to improve retention of YLWH in care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Continuity of Patient Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Kenya
  • Lost to Follow-Up*
  • Male
  • Patient Compliance
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Qualitative Research
  • Retention in Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Social Stigma
  • Young Adult