Page 82 - HIVMED_v21_i1.indb

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine
ISSN: (Online) 2078-6751, (Print) 1608-9693
Page 1 of 2 Editorial

Adolescent healthcare: I’m Lovin’ it

The field of adolescent health is motivated by the potential to deliver healthcare interventions that
Authors: 1
Carey Pike could have long-term prevention and health promotion benefits. In South Africa (SA), adolescents
1
Connie Celum 2,3,4 (aged 10–24 years) are the largest growing demographic and yet show sub-optimal health
Linda-Gail Bekker 1 outcomes, particularly those related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Interventions to
2
facilitate risk awareness and access to testing and screening programmes reduce sexually
Affiliations:
1 Desmond Tutu Health transmitted infection (STI) rates and avoid unintended pregnancies, yet adolescents continue to
Foundation, Faculty of Health face real and perceived barriers whilst accessing services. 3
Sciences, University of Cape
Town, Cape Town, Modern adolescents differ from previous generations in mindset and behaviour. Driven by
South Africa
technological advances and urbanisation, the iGeneration (born between mid-1990s and mid-
2 Department of Global 2000s) has heightened expectations of speed, functionality and choice. Whilst these characteristics
Health, University of are known and capitalised on by commercial enterprises, they are underutilised by healthcare
Washington, Seattle, platforms. Understanding the adolescent perspective can illuminate ways healthcare delivery can
United States of America
be adapted to promote adolescent access.
3 Department of Medicine,
University of Washington, Here we compare the delivery of adolescent SRH services to that of fast-food outlets, which
Seattle, United States of constitute a well-utilised service with competitive global revenues and a large adolescent clientele.
America We consider eight potential reasons fast food is popular amongst adolescents and how these
concepts could be extended to optimise healthcare delivery and increase uptake.
4 Department of
Epidemiology, University of 1. Are we there yet? Long waiting times at healthcare facilities, influenced by patient–nurse ratios,
Washington, Seattle, type of service and time of arrival, are a barrier to healthcare services. While the average
4
United States of America
waiting time in a SA clinic is 116 min, the average fast-food client would only wait 255 seconds
5
Corresponding author: (just over 4 min). Although not directly comparable, the efforts that fast-food outlets undertake
Linda-Gail Bekker, to promote fast service are relevant. The fast-food systems are signposted and easy to navigate,
Linda-Gail.Bekker@ with available services clearly displayed to facilitate informed decision-making immediately
hiv-research.org.za
from the queue. Clear healthcare information strategies, including appropriate infographics,
3
How to cite this article: inside and outside the clinics could similarly streamline visits. The fast-food production is
Pike C, Celum C, Bekker L-G. optimised by efficient, automated machinery; the healthcare analogy is the point-of-care
Adolescent healthcare: I’m diagnostic systems and the same-day treatment, which would increase clinic efficiency,
Lovin’ it. S Afr J HIV Med.
2020;21(1), a1147. https:// treatment initiation and retention. An example of a popular consumer-friendly healthcare
doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed. model that provides convenient, rapid STI/HIV services with improved patient outcomes is
v21i1.1147 the Dean Street Express clinic in London. A similar model could be adapted for adolescents.
6,7
2. Location, location and location. A convenient geospatial location is a high priority for fast-food
Copyright:
© 2020. The Authors. outlets who prioritise foot traffic and proximity to transport routes, which are positively
8
Licensee: AOSIS. This work associated with increased uptake. Decentralisation of healthcare services through mobile
is licensed under the clinics and school health programmes that provide screening services, medication collection
Creative Commons and basic treatment with onward referrals could increase spatial access and decongest
Attribution License.
facilities. Off-site centres that provide quick, easy access may be particularly desirable to
adolescents. The fast-food industry has further found that home delivery services are the
9
easiest way to decongest their outlets. Medication delivery for chronic care patients could
provide the health equivalent to UberEats – a platform that adolescents are very familiar with.
Convenient operating hours also allow fast-food outlets to accommodate a broad range of
schedules. Public health facilities that cater to the same broad population are sometimes
inconveniently located and often operate solely during working hours, requiring patients to
miss work or school. Extending operating hours into the early morning, late evening, and
weekends to accommodate patients could promote uptake.
3. Tell me what’s out there. Each year, the average American child will view over 250 McDonalds’
advertisements exclusively tailored for their age group. Marketing for fast-food products is
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Read online: pervasive, which normalise the product being advertised and provide continuous reminders
Read online:
Scan this QR
Scan this QR to access them. Advertising campaigns for HIV products that make use of multiple media
code with your
code with your platforms could accelerate public knowledge and normalise use. Different adverts are needed
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smart phone or
smart phone or
mobile device
mobile device to target diverse population groups differentiated by age. To target health promotion media
to read online.
to read online.
for youth, social media adverts and influencers (users who have an established audience and
http://www.sajhivmed.org.za 74 Open Access