Exploring lived experiences of adolescents who have transitioned to adulthood care at Lighthouse clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi: A qualitative study
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Date
2022-03-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Type of research study
This is a phenomenological study that will focus on exploring lived experiences of young
adults who have transitioned to adulthood care after being managed through ART
adolescents’ clinics.
Problem
In most ART clinical settings in Africa, ART clinics manage adults and adolescents
separately with the aim of meeting their ART needs as well as improving clinical ART
outcomes for both populations. Adolescents are young people aged 10–19 years,
undergoing rapid psychological, sexual, and physical maturity. Adolescents living with
HIV have largely been associated with poor retention in care as such, they have been
managed largely through pediatric/adolescent clinics, and with great support from their
parents as well as guardians. They have adolescent days with specific health workers who
provide the adolescent ART services. Once adolescents reach 19 years and are stable on
ART, they are transitioned to adulthood care so that they can manage ART clinic on their
own.
Studies of young people who are on ART show that they face numerous barriers to
adherence compared with adults, they have lower rates of viral suppression and higher rates
of virology rebound and loss to follow up. ART outcomes of ages 20-24 have low retention
rates. High proportion of this group include adolescents who have graduated or transition
to adulthood care. There is need, therefore, to establish and understand the lived
experiences of adolescents that have transitioned to adulthood care to come up with
interventions that will improve their overall retention outcomes.
Objectives
Broad objective
To explore lived experiences regarding ART uptake among adolescents who have
transitioned to adulthood ART care at Lighthouse clinic in Lilongwe.
Specific objectives
1. To assess individual and health system factors that affect ART service
uptake among adolescents.
2. To assess the adolescent’s perceptions of adulthood care 6 months after
transitioning.
3. To explore barriers and enablers of ART uptake among adolescents who
have graduated into adulthood care from ART providers and
parents/guardians
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Methodology
The study will use a phenomenological design as the focus will be to explore the lived
experiences of adolescents who have transitioned to adulthood care. The study will be
conducted at Martin Preuss Centre (MPC) where adolescent services are provided. The
study population will be adolescents who were accessing care at Martin Preuss Centre
(MPC) and have transitioned to adulthood ART care 6 months’ post transitioning to
adulthood care. Guardians/parents and health care workers providing ART care to the
adolescents who have transitioned to adulthood care will also be part of the study.
Expected findings and their dissemination.
The study expects to find the experiences of young adults after transitioning to adulthood
care, the challenges as well as success of ART post transitioning. The findings of the study
will be shared with will the implementing organisation, Lighthouse Trust, the relevant
government authorities (Ministry of Health), and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in
Malawi.