Bibliographic Info
Recommendation
Recommended in favor
Strong
Certainty of evidence
Moderate
Facility-based HIV testing services (HTS) should target sexually active adolescents, particularly young women and girls in high HIV burden settings, and adolescent key populations in all settings. . These should be complemented by focused self-testing for HIV.
Notes and Remarks
To ensure HIv testing services (HTS), including linkage to prevention and treatment services, are successfully implemented and effectively reach adolescents and young people it is imperative that services are delivered in settings accessible and acceptable to them. Provider training is important as well as high-level policy dialogue to update policies to increase the offer of testing, prevention and treatment for young people (for example, see Box 6.5). It is also important that services are provided in adolescent-friendly ways and meet quality standards (30). This may require changing facility hours or outreach times, offering services through mobile phones, applications and virtual interventions, as well as ensuring that services include things adolescents care about, such as testing for other infections (e.g., STIs), mental health support and broader sexual and reproductive health interventions beyond HIV. It is important that adolescents who need more support have pathways to access services, such as those who may self-test and desire more in-depth counselling or peer-navigation (31). Tailored support, referral and linkage pathways to HIV prevention, treatment and care are crucial, including other adolescentspecific sexual and reproductive health services.
Also Featured In
This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:
Consolidated guidelines on differentiated HIV testing services.