Low ART-adherence amongst adolescents is associated with morbidity, mortality and onward HIV transmission. Social protection has demonstrated benefits for adolescents, and could potentially improve ART adherence.

This study examines associations of 10 social protection provisions with adherence in a large community-based sample of HIV-positive adolescents. The results demonstrate that social protection provisions, particularly combinations of “cash plus care”, may improve adolescent adherence. Through this they have potential to improve survival and wellbeing, to prevent HIV transmission, and to advance treatment equity for HIV-positive adolescents.

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L. D. Cluver, E. Toska, F. M. Orkin, F. Meinck, R. Hodes, A. R. Yakubovich & L. Sherr (2016) Achieving equity in HIV-treatment outcomes: can social protection improve adolescent ART-adherence in South Africa?, AIDS Care, 28:sup2, 73-82, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2016.1179008