For women and girls living with HIV in their adolescence and early adulthood, this life course stage includes several transitions, changes, and introductions of various life paths. A key shift occurs when girls living with HIV in adolescence transition out of pediatric care and into adult and primary care – this shift entails overcoming the difficulties related to managing HIV, choosing to share or not to share your status, becoming educated about sexual and reproductive health care and how to access culturally competent care. Through collaborative efforts across health care, education, and social sectors, we can provide the necessary support and resources to empower adolescents living with HIV as they grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.
For women and girls living with HIV ages 13-24, some key considerations include:
- Adolescent development (body, mind, relationships)
- The 5 W’s of sharing your story (Disclosure)
- Dating
- Love Contract, right to pleasure resources/info; healthy relationships, consent
- Dating
- Transition into adulthood
- Adolescence (prepping for transition, pediatricians, etc.)
- Young / early adulthood (transition between pediatricians & PCP, extended peds care, insurance, etc.
- Reading / understanding lab work / results (health literacy)
- Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, Pleasure, & Justice
- Reproductive Life span – what to expect and when?
(contraception and reproductive care, choices, and planning; Preparation for perimenopause, etc.) - Condom negotiation
- Reproductive Life span – what to expect and when?
- Adherence to HIV treatment
- Sexual violence and coercion
- IPV, gender violence, DV
- Youth-specific resource including education, peer support, and employment
- Teen pregnancy and parenthood
- Social media (use, best practices, safety)
- Substance use involvement and awareness