CASE REPORT: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Multiple Provider Enhanced Adherence Counselling in the Improvement of Treatment Outcomes amongst Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV): A Case Series

West Afr J Med February 2025; 42 (2):152-156 PMID: 40618420

Abstract

Adolescents form a key subgroup of the population of People Living with HIV and studies have shown relatively poorer viral suppression rates in this population compared with their adult counterparts. Factors including physical, physiological and psychological changes associated with this phase of development significantly influence their viral suppression. Over time, interventions such as Enhanced Adherence Counseling (EAC) that is provided to unsuppressed clients have improved viral suppression amongst Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV). This case series reports 11 adolescent clients with unsuppressed viral load outcomes (>1000 copies/ml) who were offered Enhanced Adherence Counseling by multiple skilled EAC providers over a period of 3 to 5 months. Descriptive statistics including final viral load outcomes were summarized. The 11 unsuppressed adolescent clients had a mean age of 15.36 years. Majority were female (81.8%), Christians (54.5%) and had at least primary education (90.9%). Most of them (90.9%) had a fair knowledge of their status and the basis of their treatment and live in a primary family setting (63.6%) - with their biological parent(s). All participants had recent high viral load results and some (54.5%) had a recurring history of viral un suppression in the past. After EAC services were provided by multiple EAC providers; 10 (90.9%) of the 11 unsuppressed adolescents achieved viral re-suppression. Multiple provider EAC techniques may yield improved treatment outcomes amongst ALHIV.