Other Titles
Rising Star Poster/Presentation - Rapid Presentation Round
Abstract
Background: According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2023), 39 million people globally were living with HIV, and 1.3 million people became infected in 2022. Of those, 27% were young people (ages 15-24), including 210,000 young women and 140,000 young men. HIV is an expanding epidemic despite an overall reduction in the annual incidence percentage and the significant strides that have been made towards prevention of transmission and treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Low to middle-income countries (LMICs) are especially vulnerable to the HIV/AIDs epidemic. The identification and promotion of resilience factors could play a crucial role in both decreasing infections as well as enhancing strengths and coping in those already living with HIV.
Purpose of the Review: To investigate guiding definitions of resilience, describe resilience measurements, and identify factors associated with resilience within qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies of young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) in LMIC settings.
Search Strategy: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method studies published in English from April 2014 to September 19, 2023, focused on resilience in YPLHIV in LMICs, were included and reviewed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).
Results: Most articles had an operating definition of resilience and related it to overcoming an adverse event. Measurement of resilience varied from study to study and within the method categories. Many resilience factors overlapped with a strong emphasis on social support, including family, friends, loved ones, spiritual, cultural, and institutional support.
Conclusion: This critical review successfully appraised the various definitions of resilience, evaluated resilience measurements, and noted similarities in factors associated with resilience in YPLHIV in LMICs. The state of science needs a more precise grasp and understanding of resilience, as it is nuanced. There needs to be a uniform definition of resilience, standardized questionnaires, and defined resilience factors that support YPLHIV. This growing body of research focused on strength-based approaches to understand resilience better enhances research and clinical care, will positively support YPLHIV in LMICs, and must be continued.
Notes
Presenter notes available in attached slide deck.
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Alpha Alpha Zeta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
HIV-Positive Persons -- In Adolescence -- Developing Countries, HIV/AIDs, Low to Middle-Income Countries, Resilience, Young People Living with HIV
Recommended Citation
Bastian, Lily R., "Resilience in Young People Living with HIV in Low to Middle-Income Countries: A Critical Review" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 42.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/42
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-02-17
Resilience in Young People Living with HIV in Low to Middle-Income Countries: A Critical Review
Washington, DC, USA
Background: According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2023), 39 million people globally were living with HIV, and 1.3 million people became infected in 2022. Of those, 27% were young people (ages 15-24), including 210,000 young women and 140,000 young men. HIV is an expanding epidemic despite an overall reduction in the annual incidence percentage and the significant strides that have been made towards prevention of transmission and treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Low to middle-income countries (LMICs) are especially vulnerable to the HIV/AIDs epidemic. The identification and promotion of resilience factors could play a crucial role in both decreasing infections as well as enhancing strengths and coping in those already living with HIV.
Purpose of the Review: To investigate guiding definitions of resilience, describe resilience measurements, and identify factors associated with resilience within qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies of young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) in LMIC settings.
Search Strategy: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method studies published in English from April 2014 to September 19, 2023, focused on resilience in YPLHIV in LMICs, were included and reviewed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).
Results: Most articles had an operating definition of resilience and related it to overcoming an adverse event. Measurement of resilience varied from study to study and within the method categories. Many resilience factors overlapped with a strong emphasis on social support, including family, friends, loved ones, spiritual, cultural, and institutional support.
Conclusion: This critical review successfully appraised the various definitions of resilience, evaluated resilience measurements, and noted similarities in factors associated with resilience in YPLHIV in LMICs. The state of science needs a more precise grasp and understanding of resilience, as it is nuanced. There needs to be a uniform definition of resilience, standardized questionnaires, and defined resilience factors that support YPLHIV. This growing body of research focused on strength-based approaches to understand resilience better enhances research and clinical care, will positively support YPLHIV in LMICs, and must be continued.
Description
This review investigated guiding definitions of resilience, described resilience measurements, and identified factors associated with resilience within qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies of young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) in low to middle-income settings.