Abstract
Adolescents in Africa have low HIV testing rates. Determining the HIV prevalence among this group is very important because adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) have worse health outcome than other populations of people living with HIV. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of HIV among children of adolescents age (10 - 18 years) that come for HIV testing in virology laboratory of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja from January 2013 to December 2018. The result was expressed in percentage and disaggregated by sex. Out of 533 adolescents tested over 6 years, 252 (51.9%) females and 234 (48.1%) were males. A total of 69 (14.1%) of them were tested HIV positive which 42 (8.6%) were females and 27 (5.5%) were males. The result of this study indicates that there is epidemics of HIV among adolescents living in Federal Capital Territory Abuja. It is also evident that females are more vulnerable to HIV infection than the males. There is therefore need for urgent standard and comprehensive procedure for adolescents living with HIV transitioning from paediatric to adult care. This also calls for intensive enlightment on HIV education especially in our basic and post basic schools in Abuja.
Highlights
Adolescence is a transitional phase between childhood and adulthood characterized by unique and rapid physiological, cognitive and emotional changes with evolving capacities during the transition
Determining the HIV prevalence among this group is very important because adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) have worse health outcome than other populations of people living with HIV
This study aimed at determining the prevalence of HIV among children of adolescents age (10 - 18 years) that come for HIV testing in virology laboratory of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja from January 2013 to December 2018
Summary
Adolescence is a transitional phase between childhood and adulthood characterized by unique and rapid physiological, cognitive and emotional changes with evolving capacities during the transition. The defined age range of adolescence varies, but is generally accepted to begin with puberty and end in the transition to adulthood [1]. These changes from childhood to adulthood can be both rewarding and challenging for all adolescents as they are predisposed to high risk behaviours to HIV AIDS [2] [3] [4]. For those adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV), this transition is exacerbated by a chronic, stigmatized and sexually transmissible disease [5]. The youth are much more prone to HIV infection as well as other sexually transmitted infections as a result of a lack of correct health information, engagement in risky behaviors, economic exploitation, regional and national conflicts and a lack of access to adequate reproductive health services [6] [7]
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