P-29 Establishment of an adolescent HIV clinic, retention in care and outcomes of HIV-infected adolescents and youth
Author(s):
T Evans-Gilbert, A Barnett, D McGowan, G Reid, SA Williams, D Johnson- Wallace , T Hylton-Kong , S Campbell-Forrester, D Campbell-Stennett
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To describe the model used to establish an adolescent HIV clinic and describe retention, adult transition, and viral suppression of HIV-infected 10-19 year olds enrolled in care.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of HIVinfected adolescents aged 10-19 years enrolled in an adolescent HIV clinic from 2014- 2019. Data entered on an on-site database identified demographic characteristics, viral loads, clinic visits, retention, lost-to-follow, death, and outcomes after the transition to adult care as of December 2022. Pregnancies, deliveries, and educational or employment status were summarized.
Results: The adolescent clinic model that was used was a sequential transition. This is an adolescent clinic covering the transitional periods: paediatrics to adolescence and adolescence to youth held in the adult clinic setting with integrated support. Among 86 HIV-infected adolescents and youth, 64 (75%) were in care, 3 (4%) were lost to follow, 11(13%) were transferred, and 8(8%) died. 60 (94%) were perinatally infected. Among those in care, 8% were 10-14, 38 % were 15-19, 43 % were 20-24 and 11% were older than 25 years old. 60% were in adult care. Unemployment was 12%. Virologic suppression was 69 %. There were 23 offspring of 15 HIV-infected youth. Two perinatally infected parents had 2 HIV-infected children.
Conclusion: A sequential transition model resulted in high retention in care of HIV-infected adolescents, 3-8 years after enrolment. Vigilant integrated support must be maintained until self-management is established to help maintain viral suppression into adulthood. More adolescent-trained practitioners are needed in the public sector.