Research and Policy Guidance
Every day, new research, evidence, and program learning help us better understand and reach children and adolescents living with HIV. This toolkit, while not a comprehensive database, provides links to other clearinghouses and research databases. In addition, this section contains specific resources and tools on collecting data with and for children and adolescents living with HIV, guidance on translating research findings into policies and programs, and recent systematic reviews and analyses of global data and research.
Each linked resource page contains a description of the tool, with links to either an online version of the tool or a downloadable copy. Where resources are available in multiple languages, we have provided links.
For those interested in learning more about providing holistic support for adolescents living with HIV outside of a service center setting, we recommend exploring the resources available on the Health Services and Mental and Emotional Health pages of this toolkit.
Ethical Research and Data Collection
Ethical Approaches to Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents in International Settings
Population Council, 2005
A compilation of ethical issues and standards for conducting research with children and adolescents for anyone who plans, manages, implements, analyzes, or funds programs and research.
SRH and HIV Linkages Compendium: Indicators and Related Assessment Tools
IPPF, UNFPA, and WHO, 2014
A focused set of indicators and assessment tools for tracking the links between SRH and HIV programs at national and sub-national level.
Policy and Program Guidance
Gender, Rights, and Diversity: Connecting the Pieces
Athena Network, 2015
A collection of 10 opportunities to strengthen women’s engagement with the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, drawn from a series of dialogues with women living with HIV conducted by the Athena Network and partners.
Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!)
WHO, 2017
Guidance for policy-makers, programmers, funders, and advocates on integrated, cross-sectoral adolescent health and development. Available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish from WHO, with additional materials in Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.
Human Rights Education in Primary and Secondary School Systems: A Self-Assessment Guide for Governments
UNESCO, 2012
Situational analysis and self-assessment tools for governments to track national progress in implementing human rights education.
Protecting Children Affected by HIV/AIDS against Abuse, Exploitation, and Violence
AIDSTAR-One, 2011
A program and implementation guide for understanding the risks for abuse, exploitation and violence for adolescents living with HIV and implementing child protection within PEPFAR and other programs.
Supporting the Educational Needs of HIV-Positive Learners: a desk-based study
UNESCO and EduSector AIDS Response Trust, 2009
A review of relevant education-sector policies and relevant literature on access to education for HIV-positive children and adolescents.
Training Curriculum: A Tool for AYRH-Responsive Planning
Pathfinder International and Evidence 2 Action, 2020
A training manual for youth advocates to engage with national planning and policy processes related to sexual and reproductive health. Available in English and French.
#WhatWomenWant: A Toolkit for Putting Accountability into Action
Athena Network, 2018
This toolkit for advocates interested in accountability at all levels includes activities and modules on participatory action research, community engagement, policy change, and more.
Young People Living with HIV: A Collection and Review of the Resources for Health Workers Around the World
Pathfinder, 2015
A compendium of free online resources available for implementers to improve services available to adolescents and young people living with HIV.
Global Research and Policy Agenda
A Global Research Agenda for Adolescents Living with HIV
WHO, 2017
Considerations, research priorities, and a call to action for funders, policy makers, researchers, and implementers.
A Qualitative Review of Psychosocial Support Interventions for Young People Living with HIV
WHO, 2009
A review and analysis of existing literature and evidence on psychosocial support programs for young people living with HIV.
Best Practices for Adolescent and Youth-Friendly HIV Services
MEASURE Evaluation, 2017
A compendium of selected projects in PEPFAR-supported countries.
Changing Laws that Discriminate
UNAIDS, 2019
A short handbook for understanding how discrimination is coded in laws and steps to take to change laws for advocates, implementers, funders, and policy makers.
HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Visions, Voices, and Priorities of Young People Living With and Most Affected by HIV
LinkUP, Athena Network, and Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS
A collection of case studies, best practices, vision statements, and targeted recommendations for improving access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people living with HIV.
Improving Retention in HIV Care Among Adolescents and Adults in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Systematic Review of the Literature
YouthPower Action, 2017
A review and analysis of available literature and evidence on what works in HIV treatment and care interventions from low- and middle-income countries.
Interventions to Improve Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Adolescents in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Systematic Review of the Literature
YouthPower Action, 2018
A review and analysis of existing literature and evidence on keeping adolescents and young people living with HIV on treatment.
Mapping the HIV Response for Women and Girls
Athena Network, 2012
A guide for policy advocates to the UNAIDS Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality, and HIV.
Ready to Talk Series
Frontline AIDS, 2019
A series of three documents collecting individual stories and voices of adolescents and young people living with HIV sharing their experiences with disclosure, treatment adherence, and accessing youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services. Available in English, French, and Portuguese from Frontline AIDS.
A guideline for policy-makers and implementers to plan, develop, and monitor programs and services that promote gender equality and human rights. Available in English, French, Portuguese, and Russian from WHO.
What Works: Addressing Self-Stigma Among People Affected by HIV
Frontline AIDS, 2019
A short policy brief and evidence-based recommendations for interventions to address self-stigma among people living with HIV.
What Works: Preventing Gender Based Violence among Young People Living with or Affected by HIV
Frontline AIDS, 2019
A systematic review and analysis of the evidence on what works to prevent gender based violence among young people living with or affected by HIV.
HIV-Specific Databases
AIDSInfo.unaids.org
Global data, statistics, and factsheets on the state of the HIV epidemic.
Avert.org
Information, professional resources, and news on HIV for educators and implementers.
Childrenandaids.org
Online information portal and community for UNICEF's HIV/AIDS programme.
UNESCO HIV and Health Education Clearinghouse
News, research, and professional resources on HIV, education, and SRHR.
What Works for Women & Girls
Evidence, program evaluations, and data on HIV/AIDS interventions for women and girls in over 100 countries.
YoungpeopleandHIV.org
Global online resource and networking portal on HIV and young people from the Inter-Agency Task Team for HIV Prevention and Young People.
PLHIV Stigma Index
Global data and statistics and country level reports from the groundbreaking Stigma Index project, with survey data from over 100 countries and interviews with over 100,000 people living with HIV.
Types of Resources Key:
Training Tools: Facilitator and participant manuals and training activities designed to provide training in relevant topics for multiple audiences.
Handbooks/Job Aids: Guidance and tools for use “on-the-job” by health providers, peer educators, advocates, or other implementers. These tools are generally succinct and task-specific.
Global Standards: Minimum standards, best practices, and aspirational statements of core principles for the health and rights of adolescents living with HIV.
Implementation Guides: Programming principles and guidelines for developing services, outreach, or advocacy with and for adolescents living with HIV.
Curricula/Educational Tools: Educational guides, curricula documents, activities, and handbooks for conducting comprehensive sexuality education, peer education, or outreach.
Research/Best Practices: Case studies, systemic reviews, analysis of evidence, and recommendations for advancing the learning agenda on adolescents living with HIV.