This is the last policy brief in a series of 6 policy briefs that address social protection & adolescents. This brief discusses ways in which combination social protection lowers unprotected sex among adolescents.
This is the 5th policy brief in a series of 6 policy briefs that address social protection & adolescents. This brief outlines ways in which social protection is related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
This is the fourth policy brief in a series of 6 policy briefs that address social protection & adolescents. This brief outlines ways in which social protection can improve HIV outcomes among adolescents.
This is the third policy brief in a series of 6 policy briefs that address social protection & adolescents. This brief outlines ways in which social protection reduces HIV-risk among adolescents.
This is the second policy brief in a series of 6 policy briefs that address social protection & adolescents. This brief outlines ways in which social protection improves adolescent ART adherence.
This is the first policy brief in a series of 6 policy briefs that address social protection & adolescents. This brief outlines ways in which social protection can potentially reduce HIV-risk among adolescents.
There is overwhelming evidence that multiple social, economic, and structural factors perpetuate inequalities and increase human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk among adolescents, including poverty and other vulnerabilities addressed by social protection programmes.
To better understand the role of social protection in addressing these complex and multidimensional determinants of HIV, UNICEF conducted a systematic review to examine the evidence on cash plus or ‘bundled’ multisectoral interventions and their impacts on new HIV infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and outcomes and risk factors to HIV/STIs among adolescents and young people in Africa.
To date, this is the first review to examine bundled economic strengthening and health interventions — including but not limited to social protection — to draw lessons for developing and scaling up multi-sectoral programmes, including social protection, and making them HIV-sensitive.
The newly released research brief summarizes a longer paper by Kate Rogers, Rikke Le Kirkegaard, Joyce Wamoyi, Kaley Grooms, Shaffiq Essajee and Tia Palermo, titled Systematic review of cash plus or bundled interventions targeting adolescents in Africa to reduce HIV risk, published on BMC Public Health in January 2024.
UNICEF’s latest Spotlight Report, Knocking on Every Door, showcases Tanzania's Family-Centred Approach, where dedicated community health workers, known as Wakili Tiba, embody compassion and unwavering commitment. They go above and beyond to locate and link children and adolescents to life-saving treatment, breaking barriers and ensuring no child is left behind.
Discover their inspiring journey and transformative impact by downloading the document below.
This year's World AIDS Day theme is "Take the rights path". For this occasion, UNICEF published the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional 2024 Snapshot, featuring a regional overview of HIV trends, including vertical transmission, testing, and treatment for children and adolescents, as well as gender disparities affecting adolescent girls and young women.
Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) encounter diverse challenges in school settings that impact their well-being and academic performance. This UNICEF-supported study sought to delve into the viewpoints of teachers and administrators regarding the care and support accessible to ALHIV in schools in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.
Various forms of support for ALHIV in schools were identified. Schools had designated health teachers/matrons/ patrons responsible for addressing health-related issues, including those affecting ALHIV. Assistance for clinic visits and medication adherence was readily available. Peer clubs were established to combat stigma and discrimination while providing additional support. Nevertheless, challenges such as staff members’ limited knowledge and skills, reluctance to disclose, inadequate nutritional support, and insufficient backing from regional and district administrators persist.
The study also pinpointed areas for enhancement, such as capacity building for teachers and staff, bolstering support for disclosure, offering nutritious dietary options, reinforcing peer clubs, and fostering collaboration between the education and health sectors. These findings can inform the development of comprehensive interventions to support ALHIV in school settings better, ultimately advancing their well-being and academic achievements.