Abstract

Author:
Rufina Anwuli Medunoye, Omolola Irinoye, Olubiyi Kayode, Oluwaseun Abiodun, Olumuyiwa Femi Adewumi, Olarewaju Medunoyes, Bosede Catherine Kunle-Popoola, Desmond Oluwatoni Ajayi, ThankGod Okereh

Doi: 10.26480/jhcdc.01.2026.32.38

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

The Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) still remains public health challenge globally with most of the burdens prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Prominent among people living with HIV are the adolescents and young adults who bear a proportionate burden of this HIV pandemic. The study aimed to examine the burden of the virus, self-care and coping mechanisms of adolescents living with HIV in Ondo state. The study adopted a current embedded mixed-method design. Self-administered questionnaire and interview guide were used to gather data for the study. A multistage sampling was used to select 300 participants, while sample for qualitative study consist of 5 healthcare workers, 8 adolescents living with HIV and 12 parents/guardians for focus group discussion. Data collection was done in six facilities and analyzed using statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21.0 and ATLASt. Results revealed that among the 300 respondents 66.6% agreed that adolescents experience burden of HIV disease, 75% experience difficulty taking their drugs, another 75% experienced stigma and majority considered disclosure a high burden. On self-care majority 50.3% enjoy clinical care, 50.0% engage in personal hygiene, 49.7% adopted socializing and 48.7% ensured regular clinic attendance as self-care, and 70.9% adopted emotion focus coping and majority had good knowledge of HIV transmission 62.6%. It was concluded that the burden of disease might be reduced by providing alternative means of healthcare, creating awareness and educating the general public about HIV, also legal protection and advocacy is needed.