Handbook on Counselling and Psychosocial Care for Children and Adolescents Living with and Affected by HIV in Africa
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Network for the Care of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS – ANECCA
Abstract
In 2013, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) proposed the ambitious “fasttrack”
goals to end the global HIV epidemic by 2030, including reducing new HIV infections among
children and adolescents from 500,000 annually to 200,000 annually (2014). Donor- and countrydriven
investments have dramatically strengthened the HIV response around the world. Despite
these major commitments and advances, HIV incidence is on the rise in young people; and in Africa,
AIDS remains a leading cause of death in adolescents. The proportion of HIV-positive children and
adolescents receiving HIV services, including ART, has also continued to lag well behind that of
adults. Evidence of this gap from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 52% of children
compared to 59% of adults were on ART in 2017 (2018). Controlling the epidemic, within countries
and globally, must include preventing, testing for, and treating HIV in children and adolescents,
including addressing psychosocial issues experienced by these populations to enhance their ability to
manage the disease and live positively.
To improve access to HIV services, several African countries have decentralised HIV care to primary
health facilities. However, health care providers (HCPs) in many primary care settings do not have
access to up-to-date clinical resources to build their knowledge so they can provide comprehensive
HIV care for children and adolescents. HIV care for children and adolescents is complex, and
requires not only addressing their medical needs, but also caring for their psychological wellbeing—
to keep them healthy, retain them in care, and enable them to live positively. HCPs often
have limited skills to counsel and provide psychosocial support (PSS) to children and adolescents
living with HIV. While there have been specific in-service training courses designed to address this
challenge, high staff turnover reduces their impact. The Handbook on Counselling and Psychosocial
Care for Children and Adolescents Living with and Affected by HIV in Africa seeks to address this gap
and serves as a comprehensive reference to provide HCPs with practical information to provide
effective counselling and PSS for children and adolescents living with and affected by HIV.
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Citation
Nasaba, R., Tindyebwa, D., Musiime, V., Iriso, R., Ingabire, R., Nansera, D., ... & Duffy, M. (2013). On counselling and psychosocial care for children and adolescents living with and affected by HIV in Africa. African network for the care of children affected by HIV/AIDS–anecca.