HIV and adolescents: Guidance for HIV testing and counselling and care for adolescents living with HIV (Guidance document)
World Health Organisation - Adolescents (10–19 years) and young people (20–24 years) continue to be vulnerable, both socially and economically, to HIV infection despite efforts to date. This is particularly true for adolescents — especially girls — who live in settings with a generalized HIV epidemic or who are members of key populations at higher risk for HIV acquisition or transmission through sexual transmission and injecting drug use.
In 2012, there were approximately 2.1 million adolescents living with HIV. About one-seventh of all new HIV infections occur during adolescence.
Access to and uptake of HIV counselling and testing (HTC) by adolescents is significantly lower than for adults. Survey data collected from sub-Saharan Africa indicate that only 10% of young men and 15% of young women (15–24 years) were aware of their HIV status. However, access and coverage vary considerably across countries and regions.
Between 2005 and 2012, HIV-related deaths among adolescents increased by 50%, while the global number of HIV-related deaths fell by 30%. This increase in adolescent HIV-related deaths is due primarily to poor prioritization of adolescents in national HIV plans, inadequate provision of accessible and acceptable HTC and treatment services and lack of support for adolescents to remain in care and adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART).
These guidelines provide specific recommendations and expert suggestions — for national policy-makers and programme managers and their partners and stakeholders— on prioritizing, planning and providing HIV testing, counselling, treatment and care services for adolescents. (WHO 2013)