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Horizons and InterAction Seminar Series (more) Youth and VCT: What Do HIV Programmers HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is a valuable way to encourage adults to adopt safer sexual behaviors and to identify those who need care and treatment. However, there are key issues when considering the role that VCT can play in HIV prevention and care for youth. For example, youth may not feel comfortable using existing VCT services because of concerns about provider confidentiality and judgmental attitudes. Providers may not be equipped to handle the needs of youth for a wide range of counseling and reproductive health services. Many young people who test positive—and most of these will be female—will not be ready clinically to take antiretrovirals, thus limiting the role of VCT as an entry point for treatment. Moreover, in many countries, despite a high prevalence of sexually active youth, young people under 18 years of age cannot undergo HIV testing without parental consent. This seminar highlighted research findings, field experiences, and youth perspectives that address these and other programmatic and policy challenges. Specifically, it focused on youth-oriented strategies to strengthen HIV counseling, increase VCT utilization, and improve satisfaction with services. It also examined key policy issues that affect youth, such as access to treatment and care, age of consent, and provider-initiated testing. Panelists
Horizons Program and InterAction Seminar Series Effective Responses to HIV/AIDS: Findings from the Field This is another in a bi-monthly seminar series aimed at sharing insights, program lessons, and tools for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs. The seminars highlight findings from Horizons operations research, along with the program experiences of InterAction members. The seminars provide an opportunity for discussion, examining both the program and policy implications of the research and field experience. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development, Horizons is implemented by Population Council in collaboration with the International Center for Research on Women, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, Tulane University, Family Health International, and Johns Hopkins University. InterAction is the largest alliance of US-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations. Its more than 160 members work to overcome poverty, exclusion and suffering by advancing social justice and basic dignity for all.
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