Teen Clubs Help Retain Adolescents In HIV Care And Treatment

Malawi has a significant youth and adolescent population, with nearly two-thirds of the country’s estimated 17.2 million people under the age of 24. Youth and adolescents, aged 10-24, account for about 50% of new HIV infections in Malawi.

To better meet the unique needs of adolescents living with HIV, and thereby increase adherence to treatment and achieve viral suppression, the District Health System Strengthening and Quality Improvement for Service Delivery (DHSS) Project developed an approach introduced by the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI). The BIPAI Teen Club program, first piloted in 2013 in Uganda, is a globally recognized intervention model that, through a network of peer-support groups, empowers HIV-infected adolescents to build positive relationships, improve self-esteem, and ultimately improve clinical and mental health outcomes.

This brief describes the DHSS Project’s approach to implementing teen clubs and key results.