Psychological Stressors and Coping Strategies Used by Adolescents Living with and Not Living with Hiv Infection in Nigeria.

Little is known about stressful triggers and coping strategies of Nigerian adolescents and whether or not, and how, HIV infection modulates these sources of stress and coping. This study evaluated differences in stressors and coping strategies among Nigerian adolescents based on HIV status. We analysed the data of six hundred 10-19 year old adolescents recruited through a population-based survey from 12 States of Nigeria who self-reported their HIV status. Data on stressors and coping strategies were retrieved by self-report from participants, using a validated structured questionnaire. We compared results between adolescents with and without HIV with respect to identification of specific life events as stressors, and use of specific coping strategies to manage stress. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex. Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) had significantly increased odds of identifying 'having to visit the hospital regularly' (AOR: 5.85; 95 % CI: 2.11-16.20; P = 0.001), and 'having to take drugs regularly' (AOR: 9.70; 95 % CI: 4.13-22.81; P < 0.001) as stressors; and 'Seeking social support' (AOR: 3.14; 95 % CI: 1.99-4.93; p < 0.001) and 'using mental disengagement' (OR: 1.64; 95 % CI: 0.49-1.84; p = 0.001) as coping strategies. Adolescents not living with HIV had significantly increased odds of identifying 'argument with a friend or family member' as a stressor (AOR: 6.59; 95 % CI: 3.62-11.98; P < 0.001). Life events related to adolescents' HIV positive status were significant stressors for ALHIV. Providing targeted psychosocial support could help reduce the impact of such HIV status-related stressors on ALHIV.

Building from the HIV Response toward Universal Health Coverage.

Jonathan Jay and colleagues draw lessons from the the global HIV response that could help guide the universal health coverage movement.

Differences in sexual behaviour and sexual practices of adolescents in Nigeria based on sex and self-reported HIV status.

BACKGROUND: Sexual behaviour and sexual practices affect the risk for acquisition and transmission of HIV infection. This study tries to identify differences in sexual behaviour (condom use with non-marital partners, multiple sexual partnerships transactional sex and age mixing in sexual relationships), sexual practices (oral, anal and vagina sex), and forced sexual initiation based on sex and HIV status of adolescents in Nigeria. METHOD: Face to face interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect information from a nationally representative sample of 10-19 years old adolescents residing in Nigeria. Data included information on age of sexual debut, sexual behaviour and sexual practices. Association between HIV status, sex, sexual behaviour and sexual practices, and predictors of use of condoms during the last vaginal sexual intercourse were determined. RESULT: More self-reported HIV positive than HIV negative females had experienced forced sexual initiation (p = 0.008). Significantly more female than male adolescents had engaged in transactional sex (p < 0.001) and had sex with partners who were older than them by 10 years or more (p < 0.001). Vaginal (95.2%), oral (26.6%) and anal (7.8%) sex were practiced by male and females irrespective of HIV status. More females reported oral sex (p = 0.001). Being a female (p = 0.001), having genital itching in the last 12 months (p = 0.04)and having engaged in anal sex in the last 12 months (p = 0.009) reduced the odds of using a condom at last vaginal intercourse. Having a HIV positive or negative status did not significantly increase the odds of using a condom at last vaginal intercourse. CONCLUSION: Differences in sexual behaviour and sexual practices of adolescents was observed based on sex and not on HIV status. History of forced sex initiation however differed by HIV status. Tailored interventions for male and female adolescents are required to reduce their risk of HIV infection. Tailored interventions are also required for adolescents living with HIV to improve their sexual and reproductive health.

Tackling the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents living with HIV/AIDS: a priority need in Nigeria.

Very little is known about the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in general and the needs of those in Nigeria specifically. A review was conducted to identify the SRH of ALHIV, assess if these are different from the SRH of adolescents who are free from HIV infection, and from those of adults living with HIV. Few research have been conducted on how ALHIV deal with sexual and reproductive health challenges faced in their everyday lives - as adolescents and as persons living with HIV living in sub-Saharan Africa - to help make any meaningful inferences on these differing needs. The review suggests that the SRH needs and practices of ALHIV may differ from that of other adolescents and that of adults living with HIV. ALHIV would require support to cope with sex and sexual needs, through full integration of individualized SRH services into the HIV services received. Service providers need to appreciate the individualistic nature of health problems of ALHIV and address their health care from this holistic perspective. A 'one-size-fits-all' approach for designing SRH programmes for ALHIV would not be appropriate. We conclude that research evidence should inform the design and implementation of ALHIV friendly SRH programmes services in both urban and rural settings in Nigeria.

Associations between Forced Sexual Initiation, HIV Status, Sexual Risk Behavior, Life Stressors, and Coping Strategies among Adolescents in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: Some individuals experience their first sexual intercourse through physically forced sex, which affects the way they experience and cope with stress. We examined differences in sexual risk behavior, experience of stressors, and use of stress-coping strategies among adolescents in Nigeria based on their history of forced sexual initiation and HIV status. METHODS: We analyzed data from 436 sexually active 10-19-year-old adolescents recruited through a population-based survey from 12 Nigerian states. Using Lazarus and Folkman's conceptual framework of stress and coping, we assessed if adolescents who reported forced sexual initiation were more likely to report HIV sexual risk practices, to report as stressors events related to social expectations, medical care and body images, and loss and grief, and to use more avoidance than adaptive coping strategies to manage stress. We also assessed if HIV status affected experience of stressors and use of coping strategies. RESULTS: Eighty-one adolescents (18.6%) reported a history of forced sexual initiation; these participants were significantly more likely to report anal sex practices (OR: 5.04; 95% CI: 2.14-11.87), and transactional sex (OR: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.56-4.95). Adolescents with no history of forced sexual initiation were more likely to identify as stressors, life events related to social expectations (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.96-1.11) and loss and grief (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 0.73-2.65), but not those related to medical care and body images (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.34-1.18). They were also more likely to use adaptive responses (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 0.62-3.50) than avoidance responses (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.49-1.64) to cope with stress, though these differences were not significant. More adolescents with a history of forced sexual initiation who were HIV positive identified as stressors, life events related to medical care and body images (p = 0.03) and loss and grief (p = 0.009). Adolescents reporting forced sexual initiation and HIV-negative status were significantly less likely to use religion as a coping strategy (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.09-0.83). CONCLUSION: History of forced sexual initiation and HIV status affected perception of events as stressors and use of specific coping strategies. Our study findings could inform best practice interventions and policies to prevent and address forced sexual initiation among adolescents in Nigeria and other countries.

Differences in use of contraception by age, sex and HIV status of 10-19-year-old adolescents in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The study tried to identify predictors of good knowledge of contraceptive methods and use of condoms at the last sexual act with a girl/boyfriend by adolescents aged 10-19 years in Nigeria. It also tried to find the association between age, sex and HIV status with the study outcomes. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study that recruited a geographically representative sample of 749 adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and 825 HIV negative/untested adolescents aged 10-19 years in Nigeria. A face to face interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on their socio-demographic profile, awareness of contraceptive methods, and use of contraceptives. Study participants were recruited from six of the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. Chi-square was used to establish association between self-reported HIV status, age and sex, and awareness of contraceptive methods and condom use during last sex act. Significant predictors of 'good knowledge of modern contraceptive' and 'use of condoms by sexually active adolescents at last sex act' were also determined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Being a student significantly reduced the odds of having good knowledge about modern contraceptives (OR: 0.46; CI: 0.32-0.65; p<0.001). Having a tertiary level of education (OR: 1.36; CI: 1.12-1.64; p=0.002) and being HIV negative (OR: 2.92; CI: 1.98-4.32; p<0.001) increased the odds of having good knowledge of modern contraceptives. The only significant predictor for use of condoms at last sexual intercourse with a boy/girlfriend is self-efficacy about being about to negotiate condom use with a boy/girlfriend (OR: 141.01; CI: 14.99-1326.36; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study findings reiterate the need to introduce adolescents in general and ALHIV specifically to condom use in early adolescence prior to commencing sexual activities; and the need to provide adolescent friendly sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria.

The leadership of communities in HIV service delivery.

HIV treatment and prevention strategies are life-long endeavours, requiring not only comprehensive, high-quality, consistent and equitable medical services but also appropriate political and cultural milieus to be effective. Communities directly affected by HIV offer a unique expertise and understanding in developing services to meet the needs of people seeking out and utilizing HIV treatment, prevention and support services. Through their organizations and networks, and through partnerships with health systems, these communities provide leadership, services and advocacy to ensure the delivery of high-quality, comprehensive services to meet the needs of diverse populations affected by HIV. This article describes integrated approaches to service delivery in which affected communities play a key role in the development and implementation of HIV programmes. Further scale-up of these approaches to care can improve overall quality, reduce stigma and discrimination, increase demand for services and improve retention in care.