A new study conducted by the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) in collaboration with ViiV Healthcare has revealed that the Pregnant and Parenting Girls (P2G) programme significantly boosts resilience among HIV-positive adolescent girls who are either pregnant or parenting a child under two years old.

The study, conducted in 12 Lusaka health facilities with over 1,000 adolescents aged 18 and above, found an increase in resilience after the P2G project intervention, highlighting the programme’s success in supporting young mothers living with HIV.

The study also highlighted other significant improvements among participants, including enhanced skills, confidence, independence, income-generating ability, and knowledge of safe sex practices, PrEP, and HIV prevention.

Participants in the study showed increased confidence in parenting and a better understanding of Sexual and Reproductive Health, empowering them as HIV-positive young parents.

These study findings underscored the need for further research to validate and develop a comprehensive package of adolescent-focused services with clearly defined age ranges for effective programming.

Speaking at the P2G dissemination meeting in Lusaka, CIDRZ Chief Medical Officer Dr Carolyn Bolton thanked the Ministry of Health, partners and adolescents for their support of the programme.

Dr Bolton urged the adolescents to be ambassadors and take action, using their power to create change in their own lives and the lives of others, as HIV remains a significant issue affecting everyone.

“You are now ambassadors for this cause. You have the power to create change, not just in your own lives, but in the lives, but in the lives of others. Keep this work alive and take it into the community, because HIV is still here, and it affects us all,” Dr Bolton said.

Meanwhile, P2G Programme Manager Brenda Kayumba said the programme focused on equipping participants with essential skills and support to navigate the challenges of adolescence and parenting while managing their health.

“The programme had key activities, which include comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education, skills development, mentorship through the Girls for Girls (G4G) model, the application of the Tingathe framework, and targeted engagement of young fathers,” she said.

And Acting Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health Zambia, Dr Matilda Kakungu Simpungwe, commended the P2G programme, highlighting its importance in addressing Zambia’s pressing challenges of high adolescent fertility rates and significant HIV prevalence among young people, exacerbated by economic hardships, stigma, gender inequality, and limited access to adolescent-friendly health services.

Dr Simpungwe described the P2G initiative as a beacon of hope, empowering young mothers and their families, and thanked ViiV Healthcare, CIDRZ, and all partners for their collaborative efforts in the programme.