ART Adherence Among Adolescents Living with HIV in Haiti

Adolescents and young adults living with HIV are a unique population and represent a growing proportion of people living with HIV worldwide.  In 2019 there were 2.9 million young people ages 10-24 living with HIV with nearly half a million new cases each year – almost 80% of which are in young girls ages 10-19.  Wider ART access globally has made it possible to provide life-saving treatment and manage HIV over the long term, but adolescents have not benefitted from these advances. Since 2010, AIDS-related mortality has decreased by 50% among children, but has stayed almost stagnant among adolescents, falling just 5%.

For her dissertation research, along with the adolescent HIV research team at GHESKIO, Dr. Reif conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the feasibility and effect of point-of-care viral load tests, providing same-day viral load test results with adherence counseling to adolescents. The goal was to identify adolescents with a high viral load faster in order to provider stronger ART adherence counseling (bolstered by the quantitative viral load biomarker) and address known ART adherence barriers sooner. Results of the study showed point-of-care testing was successfully implemented with a greater proportion of participants receiving the result and adherence counseling and receiving it sooner. Further, participants receiving a point-of-care test more accurately self-reported ART adherence, improving the utility of a fast and affordable ART adherence measurement. Congratulations to Dr. Reif on the completion of her doctoral studies!

Adolescents and Peed Educators at the GHESKIO Adolescent Health Clinic