Life Skills Intervention for Adolescents Perinatally Infected With HIV

One of the salient advantages of this intervention model is that it has been developed and
implemented in several studies with adolescents. However, data concerning the effects of
this model are much less extensive with adolescents perinatally infected with HIV. The
proposed study is designed to address this gap in knowledge by conducting a pilot
intervention tailoring the life skills intervention to the needs of young adolescents,
perinatally infected with HIV, and to their primary caregivers. Given the emphasis on peer
group interaction, the proposed intervention model also has the potential to reduce some of
the social isolation imposed by the experiences related to HIV infection by creating
opportunities for adolescents to interact with others who are managing comparable stressors
and treatment regimens.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Clinically-identified HIV-1 infected participants 11-14 years of age and their
primary caregivers.

- HIV status has been disclosed to the adolescent.

- Caregiver is the legal guardian of the adolescent as indicated by the medical team.

- Adolescent lives with the caregiver

- Adolescent and caregiver speak and understand English.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Caregiver consent or permission denied or adolescent does not assent.

- Adolescent diagnosed as mentally retarded as previously reported or confirmed through
chart review.

- Adolescent and/or caregiver too medically fragile. Medically fragile is functionally
defined as being physically unable to attend the group.