Abstract:
Adolescents (ages 10-19) and youth (ages 15-24) bear a disproportionate share of the HIV burden, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, little is known about what projects are doing to make their interventions adolescent- and youth-friendly and which interventions are effective for changing HIV-related outcomes in this age group. Program managers and policymakers have little evidence derived from rigorous studies on how best to invest resources to achieve 90-90-90 targets among adolescents/young people. In recognition of this evidence, gap, MEASURE Evaluation reviewed the evidence on adolescent- and youth-friendly HIV services as a contribution toward the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) goal of creating an AIDS-free generation. This review had three objectives: (1) document knowledge of what is working and what is not working in terms of delivering adolescent- and youth-friendly HIV services, and why strategies and program activities work or do not work; (2) identify useful lessons learned about key elements of successful adolescent- and youth-friendly HIV services; and (3) promote the use and adaptation of best practices for adolescent- and youth-friendly HIV services in order to improve the quality of HIV services delivered to young people.
Based on a call for proposals regarding best practices and a review of peer-reviewed/grey literature in 22 PEPFAR-supported countries, 13 projects are presented for which permission to publish summaries in the compendium was received.
The goal of this compendium is to answer critical questions that move forward USAID’s mission of supporting (a) the adoption of evidence-based practices in adolescent- and youth-friendly HIV care and services to help at-risk adolescents (ages 10–19 years) and youth (ages 15–24 years) stay HIV-free, and (b) the provision of comprehensive packages of HIV prevention, care, treatment, and retention services to adolescents and youth living with HIV in order to promote their successful transition to adulthood.
MEAUSRE Evaluation also published "Guidelines on Best Practices for Adolescent- and Youth-Friendly HIV Services – An Examination of 13 Projects in PEPFAR-Supported Countries", a corresponding set of guidelines for best practices found in the study.
