Translating evidence into practice
Improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health and HIV programming
Adolescents (ages 10-19) undergo a dynamic period of development. Yet many adolescents face ongoing challenges to realizing their full potential, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV. In Eastern and Southern Africa, where 70 per cent of the global population of adolescents living with HIV reside, adolescents not only exhibit sub-optimal rates of antiretroviral treatment adherence and viral suppression but also face broader SRH risks, including early and unintended pregnancy, violence, and poor mental health.
Understanding and meeting the SRH needs of adolescents and young people is essential in supporting this growing population to thrive. A research partnership between the UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa regional office, the University of Oxford, and the University of Cape Town, leads us to know more about the drivers of adolescent risk in the context of HIV and SRH, and which interventions can accelerate improving adolescent health and well-being outcomes.
The research partnership, which spanned 2018 to 2023, focused on the delivery of sustainable, scalable services to improve HIV, SRH and broader adolescent well-being. It demonstrated a commitment to generating and using the best current evidence to propose practical solutions and guide decision- making. This partnership prioritised South-North collaboration leveraged learning across the region and fostered the professional development of early career researchers.
Six evidence to action briefs alongside numerous articles in peer- reviewed journals and dissemination of findings through webinars, conferences and other symposia has and is being used in integrating evidence to programming for adolescents.