A Pilot Study of “Peer Navigators” to Promote Uptake of HIV Testing, Care and Treatment Among Street-Connected Children and Youth in Eldoret, Kenya

• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2276-1
• Publication Date: 2018-09-29T07:46:16Z
• Authors: Pooja Shah; Mia Kibel; David Ayuku; Regina Lobun; John Ayieko; Alfred Keter; Allan Kamanda; Dominic Makori; Collins Khaemba; Anthony Ngeresa; Lonnie Embleton; Katherine MacDonald; Edith Apondi; Paula Braitstein
• Keywords: Serostatus; Health psychology

Research suggests a burden of HIV among street-connected youth (SCY) in Kenya. We piloted the use peer navigators (PNs), individuals mixed serostatus and with direct experience being street-connected, to link SCY testing care. From January 2015 October 2017, PNs engaged 781 (585 male, 196 female), median age 16 (IQR 13-20). At initial encounter, 52 (6.6%) were known HIV-positive 647 (88.8%) agreed testing. Overall, 63/781 (8.1%) this program HIV-positive; 4.6% males 18.4% females (p < 0.001). Of those HIV-positive, 48 (82.8%) initiated ART. As 35 (60.3%) alive The pilot that successful promoting testing, linkage care ART initiation. More research is needed evaluate how improve adherence, viral suppression retention population.