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Lost in transitions : perspectives from adolescents in Thailand

Lost in transitions : perspectives from adolescents in Thailand. Raksthai Powerteens ( Namtan ) (น้ำตาล). Raks thai Power Teens Youth Networks.

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Lost in transitions : perspectives from adolescents in Thailand

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  1. Lost in transitions : perspectives from adolescents in Thailand RaksthaiPowerteens (Namtan) (น้ำตาล)

  2. Raks thai Power Teens Youth Networks • United by a common goal, the networks work to provide greater understanding about HIV with an aim to reduce stigma and discrimination, and promote the rights of people living with HIV. This includes providing a safe space adolescents living with/affected by HIV to learn and discuss their sexual reproductive health & rights • Formed in 2007, the membership of the networks comprise of 25 peer leaders living with HIV. These peer leaders are located in different districts and provinces of Northern Thailand (Pha-yao, Sanpatong, Nakhonping, Mueng – Chiangmai)

  3. WHO DO WE REACH OUT TO? • Key targets are children, adolescents and young people living with HIV aged 10 – 22 who attend ARV clinics in the provinces of Phayao and Chiangmai • Secondary targets are children and adolescents in and out-of-schools (not necessarily living with HIV) in the provinces of Phayao and Chiangmai

  4. What our peers (adolescents living with HIV in Thailand) are saying? • “I don’t want to take anymore treatment”, “the ARVs have terrible side effects”, “I do not want to take it when I am at my friends house, school or in public” • “I don’t want to go to hospitals”. “I am scared that people in adult clinics who see me might suspect that I live with HIV” • “I need an HIV test for school admittance or to be given a job” • “I can not leave school for doctor appointments. If I do, I will not be able to follow lessons”. • “I was born with incurable virus and I feel worthless”“I am a special kid and what I want is to be treated like everybody else”

  5. What our peers (adolescents living with HIV in Thailand) are saying? • “I do not have an ideal family. I have no father/mother or both. No one is there to understand and support me. We do not have enough money to pay for hospital and/or school fees” • “I do not want to disclose my HIV status”. “When they see me taking medicines, they are scared and suspected that I might be living with HIV” • “I want to have a partner”“If my partner finds out that I am HIV-positive, he/she might loose interest in me” • “I don’t have a father or a mother and dream of having an ideal family. When my boyfriend/girlfriend breaks up with me, I feel hurt. I have no one” • “I can’t have sex. I am scared of passing on HIV to someone I love”. “I can’t take morning-after pills as they are going to interact with my ARVs”

  6. What do ALHIV want to be able to do • Think positively about health and welfare, love, education and job and that they will be able to support themselves • Have a confidence to tell others that he/she is HIV-positive • Help others by providing support and counselling on topics such as ART adherence, how to manage stress, life planning, love, relationship, safe sex, etc. • Improve the understanding of health service providers about ALHIV needs and sensitivities on such topics as ART, adolescent care provision, and reducing stigma and prejudice against ALHIV

  7. Capacity and leadership development for adolescents and young people living with HIVWhat are our approaches?

  8. We… • Reach out and create trust among ALHIV communities, allowing them to discuss, share their problems and together find solutions. We listen to them. • Help parents, caregivers and health providers to understand the needs of ALHIV. We educate them to be more sensitive to those needs, including; • how to communicate with ALHIV (esp. addressing generational gap between caregivers and ALHIV) • how to provide services to ALHIV and; • how they should respect adolescents’ decisions with regard to their own health and well-being

  9. We… • Regularly follow up with our peers to provide individual counselling, information on various topics pertaining adolescents health and referral for further support • Organiseweekend camps to boost ALHIV confidence, improve self-esteem, reduce self-stigma and realise self-worth

  10. Leadership Development weekend camp

  11. This is a team’s effort

  12. We provide “essential services” to our peers • Brother-sister approach (peer support) at ARV clinics • Individual follow-up and ALHIV-sensitive counselling, home visits, referrals, psychosocial support through the use of social media (Facebook and social media application “Line”). • For example, if our peer does not show up at ARV clinics to get their monthly ARV supplies, we call them, send message on Facebook or connect them through “Line” to find out why.

  13. We provide “essential services” to our peers • Safe sex education, SRH counselling and referrals • For example, we provide initial counseling on SRH and family planning, then refer to older peer counselors and accompany him/her to access services. • Once the person enters health system, we ensure they know where to go and keep up doctor appointments. • In health facility, we work with their parents and caregivers to sensitize them with adolescents needs.

  14. We provide “essential services” to our peers • Support groups to allow adolescents to exchange issues they faced. The meetings of support groups are held in and outside hospitals, schools, communities. • In hospitals the support group will further discuss treatment literacy, adherence and life skills • In community the support group will promote safer sex and promoting self-worth

  15. We provide “essential services” to our peers • We work with doctors, nurses, NGOs, networks of PLHIV, networks of children and adolescents, Children and adolescents District Council toadvocate for ALHIV-sensitive approaches, taking part in various decision-making processes at local, national and regional level.

  16. The outcomes of our work • As we help other peers who struggle to understand and realise their sexual and reproductive health needs. Our peers are empowered to make informed decision and are able deal with their sexual and reproductive health needs and take care of themselves • Hospitals and schools have been supportive of our activities, recognizing the importance and the roles peer leaders can play in promoting health and well-being of not just ALHIV but adolescents more broadly. They allowed us to provide services at ARV clinics and supported us to organise weekend camps

  17. The outcomes of our work • We have gained trust from society. They acknowledged our roles and the skills of our peer leaders. We are now working with other youth groups to advance broader social issues faced by young people and adolescents. • We have created a strong network allowing our peers to stay engaged, support and meet each others on a regular basis.

  18. “It is about more than just taking bigger pills, it is about having someone who understands you and supports you in whatever decisions you make about your life, love, family and education… growing up”

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