Elizabeth Secord
Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res
Perinatal HIV infection was first identified in the mid 1980's, but adequate treatments were not identified and implemented until the 1990's. The incidence of perinatal HIV did not decline until after the perinatal HIV transmission study demonstrating effectiveness of Zidovudine in preventing maternal to fetal transmission. Children with HIV who survived have to cope with many situations that are unique to them as teens and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV. They have often been raised by family that stepped in when their own parents died from HIV. They sometimes have cognitive impairment from their HIV, which was not treated adequately in early childhood. They often have acquired resistance from poor adherence throughout preadolescence and adolescence. They often have increased risk during their pregnancies compared to their peers. And all of the usual adolescence issues associated with chronic illness also occur in this population. The workshop will be a case based discussion addressing adherence, medication resistance and life skills in this very unique population of youth. It will also discuss disclosure issues and unique support systems.
Elizabeth Secord is a Professor of Pediatrics at Wayne State University, Children's Hospital of Michigan, USA. She is the Medical Director of the horizons adolescent and youth prevention and treatment program and the project challenge pediatric HIV prevention and treatment program in Detroit. She is also the Medical Director for the youth based STI prevention and treatment program for the city of Detroit. Her clinic continues to conduct multiple studies for HIV prevention and treatment through ATN, other networks and local research efforts.
Email: esecord@med.wayne.edu
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