ERIC Number: EJ1405728
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: EISSN-1746-1561
Available Date: N/A
Gaps and Opportunities for Strengthening In-School Support for Youth Living with HIV
Irene Njuguna; Cyrus Mugo; Anne Mbwayo; Orvalho Augusto; Dalton Wamalwa; Irene Inwani
Journal of School Health, v94 n2 p178-183 2024
Objectives: With optimized antiretroviral treatment youth living with HIV (YLH) now spend most of their time in schools, making schools an important venue to optimize outcomes. We evaluated school support for YLH. Methods: We conducted surveys with public secondary/high schools in 3 Kenyan counties (Nairobi, Homa Bay, and Kajiado) to determine policies and training related to HIV. Chi-squared tests and Poisson regression were used to compare policy availability and staff training by county HIV prevalence and school type. Results: Of 512 schools in the 3 counties, we surveyed 100. The majority (60%) of schools surveyed had boarding facilities. The median student population was 406 (IQR: 200, 775). Only half (49%) of schools had medication use policies; more in boarding than day schools (65% vs 30%, p = 0.003). While most schools (82%) had clinic attendance policies; policy availability was higher in higher HIV prevalence counties (Homa Bay [100%], Nairobi [82%], Kajiado [56%], p < 0.05). Overall, 64% had confidentiality policies with higher policy availability in higher HIV prevalence regions (p < 0.05). Few schools had staff trained in HIV-related topics: HIV prevention (37%), HIV treatment (18%), HIV stigma reduction (36%). Few were trained in confidentiality (41%), psychosocial support (40%), or mental health (26%). Compared to day schools, boarding school were more likely to have staff trained in HIV prevention (prevalence ratio: 2.1 [95% confidence interval 1.0, 4.0], p = 0.037). Conclusion: In this survey of Kenyan schools, there were notable gaps in HIV care policy availability and training, despite high HIV burden. Development and implementation of national school HIV policies and staff training as well as strengthening clinic and family support may improve outcomes for YLH.
Descriptors: Counties, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Foreign Countries, Drug Therapy, Incidence, High School Students, Secondary School Students, Institutional Characteristics, Boarding Schools, Day Schools, Clinics, School Policy, Confidentiality, Social Bias, Prevention, Sex Education, Health Education, Mental Health, Comparative Analysis, School Personnel, Health Services, Staff Development, Family Relationship
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Kenya
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A