Retention, adherence, and compliance: Special needs of HIV-infected adolescent girls and young women

Abstract

Purpose: To demonstrate that whereas all HIV-infected youth evidence complex factors that challenge retention in care and adherence to treatment, HIV-infected females have additional issues that are gender-specific. Methods: Preliminary data from a subset of 21 adolescent/young women under age 25 from the Whole Life mental health-perinatal HIV care project were analyzed to illustrate the needs of these patients. Results: Of the 21 young women assessed, all but one was of minority background, and a sizeable majority had limited education (