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Introduction: Despite the rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes in developing countries, pre‐treatment losses from care remain a challenge to improving access to treatment. Youth and adolescents have been identified as a particularly vulnerable group, at greater risk of loss from both pre‐ART and ART care. Point‐of‐care (POC) CD4 testing has shown promising results in improving linkage to ART care. In Khayelitsha township, South Africa, POC CD4 testing was implemented at a clinic designated for youth aged 12–25 years. We assessed whether there was an associated reduction in attrition between HIV testing, assessment for eligibility and ART initiation. Methods: A before‐and‐after observational study was conducted using routinely collected data. These were collected on patients from May 2010 to April 2011 (Group A) when baseline CD4 count testing was performed in a laboratory and results were returned to the clinic within two weeks. Same‐day POC CD4 testing was implemented in June 2011, and data were collected on patients from August 2011 to July 2012 (Group B). Results: A total of 272 and 304 youth tested HIV‐positive in Group A and Group B, respectively. Group B patients were twice as likely to have their ART eligibility assessed compared to Group A patients: 275 (90%) vs. 183 (67%) [relative risk (RR)=2.4, 95% CI: 1.8–3.4, p Discussion: POC CD4 testing significantly improved assessment for ART eligibility. The improvement in the proportion initiating ART and the reduction in time to initiation was not significant due to sample size limitations. Conclusions: POC CD4 testing reduced attrition between HIV‐testing and assessment of ART eligibility. Strategies to improve uptake of ART are needed, possibly by improving patient support for HIV‐positive youth immediately after diagnosis., Introduction The rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes in the last decade has greatly improved access to HIV treatment; however, this expansion has been hampered with high rates of [...]

Among both girls and boys, contemplation of smoking is positively related to weight concerns. Experimentation with cigarettes seems to be positively related to weight control behaviors. Smoking status, weight concerns, [...]

In December 2003, the prime minister's strategy unit, which helps government departments to analyse major policy issues, launched a project to look at ways of improving the life chances of [...]

Early childbearing, unsafe abortion, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual violence, drug and alcohol addiction, family tensions, and psychological distress are all common problems among youth in Guatemala and Colombia. [...]

How much time and money are spent to convince public acceptance of a miraculous vaccine, the first in the world known to be effective in the prevention of a form [...]

Parents play a primary role in the health and health education of their children. In particular, parent involvement in planning and promoting adolescent immunization campaigns is critical to successful efforts. Parents serve as their children's primary educators on health issues, but where can they get accurate health information? To help guide local PTA units in their programmatic efforts, the National PTA maintains positions and policy statements on multiple health issues: alcohol and other drug abuse; emergency preparedness: environmental issues;family life education firearm safety HIV prevention health screenings immunization (measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B); lead poisoning; nutrition; protective helmet use; sexual assault prevention; TB testing tobacco use and access violence prevention and youth suicide prevention. Likewise, the school-home partnership is key to promoting the health of adolescents. Comprehensive school health programs and integrated services are necessary to support parent and community efforts to promote adolescent health issues, including immunization programs. Techniques for effective parent involvement, based on the National Standards for Family/Parent Involvement issued by the National PTA January 1997, are discussed. (J Sch Health. 1997;67(7):292-293), Parents serve as their children's first and primary health educator. Parents are responsible for the health-related decisions for children, and their behavior strongly influences children's health habits as they become [...]

Historically, school health nurses have played an important part in decreasing the occurrence of contagious childhood diseases, and they continue to represent a cost-effective community resource for maintaining high levels [...]

RCN Council was urged to develop guidance to help combat homophobic bullying and promote access to health services for young people after a resolution brought by RCN Hampstead Branch was [...]

Older adolescents from families living below the poverty line are more likely to be overweight than their more affluent counterparts. The prevalence of excess weight in adolescents in the United [...]

Introduction: Adolescents with diabetes receive regular health education both opportunistically and as part of their annual review. The aim is to provide them with advice to lead a healthy lifestyle [...]

Each year, 5, 000 Americans die of hepatitis B, a disease that is transmitted mostly among adolescents and young adults but is now preventable by vaccination. 'Adolescents are the orphans [...]