EFFECT OF ADOLESCENT-YOUTH FRIENDLY HEALTH SERVICES ON CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF AYALHIV IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA.

Background: Adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYALHIV) often face challenges in maintaining consistent antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, which is critical for achieving viral suppression and long-term treatment success. Adolescent-Youth Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) were developed to improve adherence and treatment outcomes in this population. This study evaluated the effect of AYFHS on ART adherence among AYALHI Objective: V in Nigeria, using Taraba State as a case study. A cross-sectional comparative design was employed with Methods: 386 AYALHIV, comprising 193 AYFHS attendees and 193 non-attendees of PBP supported facility. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with STATA version 16. ART adherence was measured and compared between the two groups, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. ART adherence was significantly higher Results: among AYFHS attendees (M=14.05, SD=7.05) compared to non-attendees (M=11.48, SD=5.47), t (384)=6.53, p<0.001. The findings indicate that AYFHS attendance is associated with improved treatment consistency, suggesting that targeted, youth-friendly service models can play a key role in enhancing adherence among AYALHIV. AYFHS Conclusion: significantly improves ART adherence among AYALHIV in Nigeria. Scaling up AYFHS models is recommended to ensure sustained treatment outcomes and to accelerate progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. Policy and programmatic investment in AYFHS is critical to strengthening adherence support and optimizing care for AYALHIV