Barriers to the provision of youth-friendly services for adolescents living with HIV and AIDS

Adolescents living with HIV and AIDS experience difficulties when they transition from pediatric clinics to adult clinics. People living with HIV and AIDS have been judged and stigmatized as promiscuous. Since adolescence is a challenging milestone with all the physical and emotional changes, adolescents become vulnerable to defaulting care and treatment at the clinic. In some health facilities, youth-friendly services are still not well implemented, despite the program being advocated for by the World Health Organization to reduce HIV. The study aimed to explore the barriers to the provision of youth-friendly services for adolescents living with HIV and AIDS in clinics in Gauteng Province, South Africa. An explorative descriptive and qualitative design was applied through in-depth interviews. Data were collected from 15 professional nurses in three clinics and analysed using the content analysis framework. The study's findings produced five themes: human resource challenges, inadequate space to provide the service, healthcare providers’ attitudes toward the provision of mixed services and an environment not conducive to the service. Healthcare providers displayed judgemental attitudes towards adolescents when they sought sexual and reproductive services at the clinics. The shortage of staff and resources hampered the provision of youth-friendly services to adolescents living with HIV and AIDS. Lack of privacy and confidentiality due to limited space in the clinics caused adolescents to default on their treatment as they are seen in the same space as adults. The study recommends a designated area for adolescents and youth separated from other clinic populations so that sexual and reproductive health topics can be discussed without fear of being identified by other people visiting the clinic. Moreover, more youth-inclusive environments in healthcare settings should be created.