Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV-Infected Children Attending a Donor-Funded Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Despite their high levels of knowledge about HIV and AIDS; young people ages 15-24 years in South Africa remain disproportionately affected by the epidemic. Young people's continued susceptibility to HIV infection has been consistently linked to intractable higher-risk sexual behaviours. This paper uses multivariate techniques and secondary data from two nationally representative surveys to illuminate individual and socio-structural factors that play a significant role in youths' continued engagement in higher-risk behaviour; despite their high awareness about HIV and AIDS. The findings show that notwithstanding progress in terms of increased condom use and reduced incidence of other sexually transmitted infections; the average age of sexual debut remains low; multiple sexual partnerships are prevalent; and inconsistent condom use is widespread among young people. Factors significantly associated with these risk behaviours occur at the individual and structural levels and include issues of race; gender; poverty and susceptibility to peer pressure. The paper concludes by recommending that future HIV-prevention interventions in South Africa should aim at building resilience among youths by promoting affirmative; supportive interventions that emphasize the potentials of young people