Young People Living with HIV: Sex and Relationships

Joy Cunningham Senior Technical Officer, Research UtilizationFHI 360

Young people living with HIV, like all young people, are sexually active or curious

YPLHIV need comprehensive information to:

• Prepare for lifetime of healthy, safe, pleasurable relationships

• Prevent unintended pregnancy and plan for pregnancy

• Prevent transmission of HIV/STIs

• Prevent reinfection

Framing the Issue—Sexual Behavior Among YPLHIV

• Mixed data on age of sexual debut

• Rates of sexual activity are consistent with other adolescents

• YPLHIV may engage in riskier sexual behavior

• Rate of pregnancy consistent with other adolescents

Framing the Issue—Relationships

I told my boyfriend after I found out. He was like ‘ok’ but I haven’t heard from him since.”—Female, Kenya

“My girlfriend loves me very much. I love her too and I don’t want to hurt her. I think she would be afraid of me if she knows I am an HIV person. So I broke up with her without any explanation. I think she still loves me.”— Male, Vietnam

“I wonder where I would be if I didn’t get this disease? Maybe I would be married, if I wasn’t positive now.”—Female, Kenya

“I’m even thinking about another baby in 2 years.”— Female, Kenya

Promising Approaches

• Support groups

• Parental and adult involvement

• Peer education

• Youth-friendly services

• Engaging YPLHIV

Challenges

• Addressing the lack of providers who are

sensitive to the needs of YPLHIV

• Recognizing the needs of young people who acquire HIV during adolescence

• Reaching vulnerable and MAR/key affected populations

• Meeting the specific needs of young married girls living with HIV

Unanswered Questions

• How can we apply promising practices in youth sexual and reproductive health to meet the needs of YPLHIV?

• How can we engage highly vulnerable populations?

• What types of research can be conducted to better understand the sexual and reproductive health behaviors of YPLHIV?

Thank You

www.iywg.org, @IYWG, jcunningham@fhi360.org

Positive Connections: Leading Information and Support Groups for Adolescents Living with HIV

• Developed by FHI 360

• Available in fall of 2012

• Provides adult facilitators with background information about the needs of ALHIV

• Tips for starting and leading an information and support group

• 14 sessions to be used in a group setting

• Guidance on tracking a program’s progress and success

Promoting Partner Reduction: Helping Young People Understand and Avoid HIV Risks from Multiple Partnerships

• Developed by FHI 360

• Available in fall of 2012

• Set of activities designed to help young people understand and reduce multiple sexual partnerships

• Developed for use in conjunction with sexual reproductive health, HIV, or related youth program