Transitioning to adult HIV care: Challenges and evidence-based practices

Key take-home messages

• The transition to adult HIV care can be a vulnerable point in the care and treatment of young people living with HIV.
• Health outcomes of young people living with HIV post-transition—including retention in care, changes in disease markers, and mortality—appear to be poorest among individuals with unsuppressed viremia prior to transitioning to adult HIV care.
• For young people, HIV-related stigma can act as a barrier to developing a relationship with a new adult HIV care provider.
• Two recent clinical prediction tools, one developed in the U.S. and one in South Africa, have been used to determine if youth are ready to enter adult HIV care.
• Transition interventions that incorporate components such as individualized care plans, communication, psychological support, health and sexual education, and mobile health (mHealth) appear to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy, retention in care, and viral load suppression after transitioning to adult HIV care.

• Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
  • Determinants of Health
• Determinants of Health
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Social support
  • Health services
  • Stigma/discrimination
• Population(s)
  • Children or Youth (less than 18 years old)
  • General HIV+ population
• Prevention, Engagement and Care Cascade
  • Engagement and Care Cascade
• Engagement and Care Cascade
  • Linkage/engagement in care
  • Retention in care
  • Treatment
• Health Systems
  • Governance arrangements
  • Delivery arrangements