{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T20:35:48Z","timestamp":1773434148885,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,28]],"date-time":"2023-04-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1682640000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"University of Venda Research and Publication Committee"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Many children who contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through vertical transmission are now in their adolescent and early adult years. The aim was to explore the experiences of adolescents living with HIV (ALWHIV) during the transition from childhood to adulthood. Methods and Material: The study was conducted at selected primary healthcare facilities in the Mopani and Vhembe districts in July 2021. A qualitative research approach that included contextual, descriptive, and exploratory designs was used. The population comprised 27 ALWHIV who were purposively sampled and enrolled for ART care. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, and the question was \u201cHow is it for you as you live with a virus and transit from adolescent to adulthood\u201d. The open coding approach was used to analyse the data. Measures to ensure trustworthiness articulated in Lincoln and Guba\u2019s criteria and ethical considerations were adhered to. Findings: The findings revealed four themes: poor understanding of the disease condition, improved physical health when adhering to ARV treatments, challenges related to sexual maturity and intimate relationships, and parents not disclosing their children\u2019s HIV status. Conclusion: Parents\u2019 delayed and non-disclosure of adolescents\u2019 positive HIV status led to a lack of awareness about the course of the disease, non-adherence to ART, and unsafe sex practices that could increase the risk of HIV transmission and re-infection. To address these multiple obstacles associated with ALWHIV, a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that is teenager-friendly should be undertaken.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children10050798","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,28]],"date-time":"2023-04-28T10:51:52Z","timestamp":1682679112000},"page":"798","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Growing Up with HIV: Experiences of Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood at Selected Primary Health Facilities in Limpopo Province, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Azwinndini Cecilia","family":"Mukwevho","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Advanced Nursing, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria Sonto","family":"Maputle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Advanced Nursing, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7571-4767","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dorah Ursula","family":"Ramathuba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Advanced Nursing, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (2023, March 10). 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