20.2 Trauma, Stigma, and HIV Care Engagement Among Adolescents in Kenya: A Synthesis of Qualitative Data

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Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV, ages 10-19 years) experience poorer outcomes in the HIV care cascade as compared to adults, owing to developmentally specific care challenges and mental health burdens. Adolescents are particularly affected by trauma and stigma, which influence their HIV care engagement, including adherence to antiretroviral therapy and retention in care. We sought to describe the contexts and influences of trauma and stigma among ALHIV, factors promoting resilience and care engagement, and the need for trauma-informed (TI) approaches in adolescent HIV care.