Background 

Worldwide, more than 1.7 million adolescents are living with HIV, including an estimated 320,000 in South Africaa. Adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa experience poorer health outcomes than adults, including lower adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and virologic suppressionb. This group is also characterized by high rates of unprotected sex, increasing the risk of adverse sexual health outcomes and onward transmissionc. Limited research exists on effective programming for improving health outcomes among AYLHIVd-e. The purpose of this study was to identify modifiable factors for interventions while evaluating the effects of a structured support group for AYLHIV in South Africa.