School, Supervision and Adolescent-Sensitive Clinic Care: Combination Social Protection and Reduced Unprotected Sex Among HIV-Positive Adolescents in South Africa
Tests whether social protection is associated with reduced unprotected sex among 1060 ART-eligible adolescents
Abstract
Social protection can reduce HIV-risk behavior in general adolescent populations, but evidence among HIVpositive adolescents is limited.
This study quantitatively tests whether social protection is associated with reduced unprotected sex among 1060 ART-eligible adolescents from 53 government facilities in South Africa. Potential social protection included 9 ‘cash/cash-in-kind’ and ‘care’ provisions. Analyses tested interactive/additive effects using logistic regressions and marginal effects models, controlling for covariates. 18 % of all HIV-positive adolescents and 28 % of girls reported unprotected sex. Lower rates of unprotected sex were associated with access to school, parental supervision and adolescentsensitive clinic care. Gender moderated the effect of adolescentsensitive clinic care. Combination social protection had additive effects amongst girls: without any provisions 49 % reported unprotected sex; with 1–2 provisions 13–38 %; and with all provisions 9 %. Combination social protection has the potential to promote safer sex among HIV-positive adolescents, particularly girls.
This article is part of the Technical Assistance for the Southern Africa Regional Programme on HIV prevention evidence programme.
Citation
Toska, E., Cluver, L.D., Boyes, M.E. et al. AIDS and Behavior, September 2017, Volume 21, Issue 9, pp 2746–2759 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1539-y