Transition interventions for adolescents on antiretroviral therapy on transfer from pediatric to adult healthcare: A systematic review

Abstract

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) experience poor health outcomes such as low retention in care, suboptimal adherence to ART, insufficient viral suppression, high morbidity and mortality. These outcomes coincide with the period during and after their transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. Several studies have been conducted to describe and assess the effects of transition interventions for ALHIV predominantly in high-income countries. The dearth of studies on transition interventions in sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed partly to a lack of national guidelines and clinical protocols to guide the transfer of ALHIV on ART from pediatric to adult healthcare.