Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Good Practice Case Study on HIV Prevention Treatment, Support and Care to Adolescents and Young People in the Western Cape, Beaufort West, South Africa: Profiling the Out of School Youth Project of Partners in Sexual Health (PSH) Targeted at Ages 15-24

Abstract

Gerda Erasmus and Leon Swartz

The good practice case study was undertaken in 2015 and mostly focussed on out of school youth with regard to adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights and HIV and Aids prevention. This study used a mixed method where both the quantitative as well as the qualitative research method were utilised and where the latter was the dominant method. The research focus on the target beneficiaries between the ages 15-24 and the services they received from Partners in Sexual Health (PSH). The findings indicate that this group are very early sexual active. The research has further established that when it comes to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) there is a huge need for youth friendly services and cognisance need to be taken of the needs of young people, which is not being identified and addressed fully. While the exact impact on beneficiaries of the Out of School Project has not been measured, there is considerable evidence of a positive impact on beneficiaries as reflected by the respondent’s comments. According to observations made by the key informants the uptake of the Out of School Project was excellent. The study concluded by presenting a list of recommendations.