"Now What?" to "So What!": Journey with Perinatally HIV Infected Adolescents Transitioning to Adulthood

Soc Work Public Health. 2015;30(7):545-9. doi: 10.1080/19371918.2015.1073647. Epub 2015 Sep 1.

Abstract

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) struggle with questions pertaining to their future; contemplating "Now what?" The authors, a nongovernmental organization from India, designed residential workshops for ALHIV to provide them the space to share concerns and draw support from peers. This increased their self-belief and agency, induced voluntarism, and resulted in formation of a support group, "So What!" The members volunteered in planning a similar workshop for their peers and also shared their experiences of disclosure in the form of a booklet. Active involvement of ALHIV could be a key strategy to address the needs of ALHIV.

Keywords: HIV infected adolescents; disclosure; peer support group; psycho-social support; transitioning to adulthood.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Disclosure
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Humans
  • India
  • Male
  • Peer Group
  • Psychosocial Support Systems
  • Self-Help Groups
  • Young Adult