Reflections 2025 International AIDS Society Conference: Finding belonging, building resilience, and reimagining a future in research.
25 August 2025
Working with, and for, communities: Building trust and strengthening the DHS through community engagement
1 September 2025
Reflections of resilience and vulnerability of adolescents living with HIV during COVID-19: A photovoice study in peri-urban Cape Town, South Africa
On the 8th April 2025, I had the opportunity to present my PhD research, which explored the impact of COVID-19 on adolescents with HIV in peri-urban Cape Town, with a focus on their resilience and vulnerability using photovoice methodology.
Written By:
Yolanda Mayman
The School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape
Presenting my research at PHASA 2025 was incredibly meaningful and affirming, as it allowed me to showcase the voices and lived experiences of a population that is often overlooked in public health discourse. Sharing the experiences of ALHIV during the COVID-19 pandemic with a national audience of public health professionals helped to highlight their resilience and ongoing vulnerability of ALHIV. The presentation also demonstrated the power of photovoice as a participatory research tool for generating dialogue and informing youth-centered health interventions. The feedback and engagement I received from fellow researchers and practitioners provided valuable insights for the future direction of my postdoctoral work. Overall, the opportunity to present at PHASA reaffirmed my commitment to amplifying adolescent voices in public health and advocating for the improvement of adolescent and youth-focused care and services.