The Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR) and the  Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa  (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town invite you to join us for a lunchtime seminar on 18 November 2025 at 12:45pm. The seminar will be presented by Lesley Gittings, Abigail Dreyer, and Agnes Ronan.

About the Seminar:

Frontline Realities in Paediatric-Adolescent HIV Service Delivery: Insights into Mental Health, Wellbeing, and HIV Status Disclosure from Frontline Health and Social providers from Twelve African Countries

This seminar presents a series of findings from research with health and social service providers from twelve African countries who provide paediatric-adolescent HIV services, highlighting their critical yet often underexplored experiences.

The first study examines the complex and sensitive process of HIV status disclosure for children and adolescents living with HIV. Using participatory and qualitative methods, it explores how personal, interpersonal, community, and structural factors shape disclosure practices and identifies the pivotal role of frontline health and social service providers in supporting effective disclosure.

The second study presents mixed-methods findings on the mental health and wellbeing of 617 health and social service providers who provide paediatric-adolescent HIV services across 12 high HIV-prevalence African countries. Findings reveal high levels of depressive symptoms, particularly among younger and psychosocial support workers, and highlight the urgent need for workplace wellbeing support, improved conditions, and systemic change.

Together, these findings underscore the importance of strengthening support systems for providers who sustain the paediatric-adolescent HIV response in Africa - an issue that is increasingly urgent given reductions in HIV programme funding and the deprioritisation of integrated services.

Speakers

Agnes Ronan is Head of Programmes and Knowledge at PATA, leading initiatives that strengthen frontline HIV service delivery and improve outcomes for children and adolescents.

Lesley Gittings is an Assistant Professor at Western University in Canada and an Honorary Research Associate (CSSR, UCT).

Abigail Dreyer is the head of Learning, Influence, Networking and Knowledge at PATA.

  18 November 2025
  12:45 - 14:00 SAST
   CSSR Seminar Room, 4.29 Robert Leslie Social Science Building, UCT

Hosted by the Centre for Social Science Research and the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa