Abstract
The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, Safe) Initiative works to reduce HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through prevention interventions including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Pamoja CBO in Kisumu, Kenya implemented DREAMS. We describe PrEP initiation and persistence in 549 AGYW who started PrEP through Pamoja and factors associated with discontinuation. Median persistence time was 308 days (95% CI 245, 382) with 59% of AGYW discontinuing by the end of the study. The most common reasons for stopping PrEP were lack of perceived risk (27.9%) and relocation (18.7%). In the multivariable model, only age < 18 was associated with stopping PrEP. Younger age was associated with shorter time to discontinuation. Implementing PrEP through DREAMS was successful in supporting initiation of PrEP for AGYW. However, low rates of persistence at 1 year emphasizes the need for strategies to support PrEP persistence if HIV elimination is to be achieved.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2376-2386 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | AIDS and behavior |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2022 |
Funding
We would like to acknowledge and thank the Pamoja staff members and DREAMS beneficiaries who participated in or contributed to our study. We would also like to thank the Ministry of Health, Seme Sub-County and village leaders who helped make this study a possibility.
Keywords
- Adolescent girls and young women
- DREAMS initiative
- HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
- PrEP initiation
- PrEP persistence
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
