HIV, malaria and beyond: reducing the disease burden of female adolescents.
In sub-Saharan Africa the highest overlap between malaria and HIV infections occurs in female adolescents. Yet control activities for these infections are directed to different target groups, using disparate channels. This reflects the lack of priority given to adolescents and the absence of an accepted framework for delivering health and health-related interventions to this high-risk group. In this paper it is argued that female adolescents require a continuum of care for malaria and HIV - prior to conception, during and after pregnancy and that this should be provided through adolescent services. The evidence for this conclusion is presented. A number of African countries are commencing to formulate and implement adolescent-friendly policies and services and disease control programs for malaria and HIV will need to locate their interventions within such programs to ensure widespread coverage of this important target group. Failure to prioritize adolescent health in this way will seriously limit the success of disease control programs for malaria and HIV prevention.
Brabin
Loretta
L
Academic Unit of Obstetrics & Gynaecology & Reproductive Health Care, Research floor, St, Mary's Hospital, Whitworth Park, Manchester M13 OJH, UK. loretta.brabin@manchester.ac.uk
Brabin
Bernard John
BJ
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D016387:Women's Health