Please note that there are two different conference venues: June 14/15 - Century City Conference Centre June 16 - Kirstenbosch Conference Centre (transportation available)
Building resilience through the healthcare system: healthcare practitioner and HIV positive adolescent user’s perspectives Presenter: Nataly Woollett (University of Witwatersrand, South Africa) Co-Authors: Kirsten Thomson, Shenaaz Pahad Introduction: Resilience is crucial in managing HIV positive adolescents and studies confirm that resilience can be promoted through effective programming. Healthcare practitioners and HIV infected adolescents offer valuable perspectives on how to foster resilience in adolescent patients, concurrently strengthening the healthcare system and mitigating risk for youth, who face compounded vulnerabilities. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare practitioners and international experts working directly with HIV positive adolescents (n=30) and HIV positive adolescents accessing care (n=25) in Johannesburg public health clinics. Participants identified resilience building elements that could benefit adolescents using the public healthcare system in South Africa. Data was analysed in NVIVO 10 using a thematic approach to coding. Findings: Recommendations included: adolescent clinics that utilized a rights-based approach, sexual reproductive health services and psychosocial support for adolescents and their caregivers at facilities. Practitioners advocated adopting legal frameworks that protect adolescents’ inheritance, guardianship and income grants. Skills building activities and health service provision at community and school level was emphasised.
