Advancing implementation science for adolescent HIV in high burden African countries

SAT043

Satellite

Other

Plaza Terrace Room/Channel 2

25 July 07:30 - 08:30

Co-Chairs

Rachel STURKE, NIH, United States
Susan VORKOPER, National Institutes of Health, United States

Moderators

Linda-Gail BEKKER
Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, South Africa
Nadia SAM-AGUDU
Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Nigeria
Chisom OBIEZUUMEH
St. Louis University, United States

Organizer

Fogarty International Center

This symposium at the AIDS 2023 Conference will highlight the findings from the May 2023 “Advancing Implementation Science for Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment in High Burden African Countries” supplement in AIDS & Behavior. This special supplement represents the collective learning of the Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA) related to implementation science in the context of the adolescent HIV continuum of care from multiple African countries. Specifically, this symposium will describe the current academic landscape of adolescent HIV and implementation science, such as the methodological use and utility of implementation measures and frameworks; address timely topics such as the use of innovative technologies for study adaptations in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic; and explore opportunities to enhance adolescent-responsive approaches to HIV prevention and treatment using implementation science.

07:30 5 min	Introduction Rachel STURKE NIH, United States

07:35 30 min	Panel Discussion: Using IS to address AYA HIV Kristin BEIMA-SOFIE University of Washington, United States Geri DONENBERG UIC, United States La Ron NELSON Yale, United States Sujha SUBRAMANIAN RTI, United States Joseph TUCKER UNC, United States Nadia SAM-AGUDU Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Nigeria

08:05 20 min	Panel Discussion: Achieving policy and programmatic impact Michael MBVIZO Population Council, Zambia Eleanor NAMUSOKE-MAGONGO Ministry of Health, Uganda Chisom OBIEZUUMEH St. Louis University, United States Moherndran ARCHARY University of KwaZulu-Natal/AHRI, South Africa Linda-Gail BEKKER Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, South Africa

08:25 5 min	Closing Susan VORKOPER National Institutes of Health, United States

AUTHOR

Nadia Sam-Agudu

SUMMARY

The NIH/Fogarty International Center Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA) presents findings from the application of implementation science (IS) to HIV prevention and treatment among adolescents and youth HIV in high-burden African countries. AHISA speakers also discuss programmatic and policy implications for adolescent HIV prevention and treatment.

HIGHLIGHTS

In Part 1, panelists examine AHISA’s work in framing and measuring implementation determinants, outcomes and strategies (Dr. Kristin Beima-Sofie); crowdsourcing for adolescent engagement in research (Dr. Joe Tucker); assessing barriers to evidence dissemination (Dr. Geri Donenberg); the Adolescent-focused Integrated Modular Services (AIMS) framework for efficient service delivery (Dr. Sujha Subramainan); and optimizing the impact of biomedical HIV prevention innovations for young sexual minority men (Dr. LaRon Nelson). The panelists recommend rigorous application of IS frameworks in research, early and intentional adolescent engagement, framework-guided dissemination and integration, and selecting facilitator-boosting strategies. In Part 2, panelists discuss IS in adolescent HIV program implementation, clinical practice, and policymaking in Zambia, South Africa and Uganda. Dr. Michael Mbizvo and Dr. Moherndran Archary state that translating evidence to policy includes engaging community, and that policy should not be siloed on HIV but should consider adolescents as a whole with needs beyond HIV. Dr. Eleanor Namusoke-Magongo emphasizes the importance of IS capacity building for Ministries of Health and describes how the Uganda MoH is building and applying IS capacity and skills in HIV programs. All speakers stress the importance of early engagement of stakeholders and applying IS in translating evidence into policy for adolescent-responsive HIV programming.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

This satellite highlights an expansive scope of IS applications in adolescent HIV in Africa. The AHISA study results and experiences provide guidance for adolescent HIV stakeholders to incorporate IS into their projects, clinics and programs. Take-home points include the call for rigorous use of measures and frameworks, early and intentional engagement of adolescents, policymakers and community members, and budget and block time for dissemination in adolescent-responsive research and policymaking. We must build the science of implementation in adolescent HIV. The research and policy/programming discussions provide insight into the scope and impact of IS for adolescent HIV in highly affected settings.