Resourcing Resilience: The case for social protection for adherence and HIV-related outcomes in children and adolescents in Eastern and Southern Africa

With increased access to antiretroviral therapy, many perinatally affected children are surviving to become adolescents and adults.  The bad news is that adolescents report much lower adherence rates than children or adults–which can lead to personal illness and increased risk of HIV transmission to sexual partners.  This study provides a comprehensive literature and policy review on child-sensitive social protection and ART adherence in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA).  The report shapes policy direction by suggesting that social protection is key to breaking the pattern of adolescent non-adherence and increased transmission through known pathways through poverty reduction and economic development, improved access to healthcare, improved food security, greater gender equality, access to education and health services, reduced stigma and discrimination, and improving caregiver psychosocial and physical well-being