Table 7 Implications and recommendations from the present study
Domain | Implication or recommendation |
|---|---|
Community-based studies, qualitative studies | Community-based studies are needed to complement projects carried out in medical settings, since the population of AABL young and emerging adults living with HIV changes and some members of this population have serious barriers to research. Further, qualitative studies are useful for uncovering the population’s views on the causes, meaning, and effect of factors such as those studied here |
Coping | Substance use is a common means of coping with stress, life changes, and mental health symptoms in this population. It may be useful to increase the range of coping strategies available to AABL young and emerging adults living with HIV, including psychosocial strategies |
Harm reduction | Harm reduction approaches are necessary for AABL young and emerging adults living with HIV and show utility. But, the best ways to apply harm reduction in this population are not well understood and warrant further research |
Tobacco use | Tobacco use is common in this population, although smoking is hazardous for persons living with HIV. Smoking is difficult for AABL young and emerging adults living with HIV to stop, highlighting the need for the implementation of interventions and new intervention approaches |
Emerging adulthood | Person-context interactions are complex in young and emerging adulthood, and there are many potential pathways to adulthood. Members of this population may reach the markers of adulthood earlier or later their peers in lower-risk contexts and with more resources. It is necessary for services and interventions to take variability in development into account to be effective |
Prevention and intervention | Screening is recommended at regular intervals with AABL young and emerging adults living with HIV, focused on social determinants of health, mental health, substance use, and HIV management. Screening results can be used to prevent or treat mental health and substance use disorders and disengagement from the HIV care continuum. At the same time, the fact that age- and racial/ethnic disparities in HIV care continuum engagement are serious and persistent indicates the need to invest in research, including intervention studies, to support positive developmental trajectories and wellbeing in this group |