Fact Check: "The DREAMS program, which aimed to reduce HIV risk among young women in Kenya, had virtually all participants remain HIV-free during their three-year enrollment."
What We Know
The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) Partnership was initiated to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa. The program aimed for a 40% reduction in HIV incidence over two years through a combination of interventions addressing various risk factors (source-1).
Research conducted in Kenya and South Africa indicates that while there were declines in HIV incidence among AGYW during the period of DREAMS implementation, these declines began before the program's introduction and did not accelerate during the first three years of the program (source-1). Specifically, the study found that HIV incidence rates among AGYW aged 15-24 did not show evidence of a significant reduction attributable to DREAMS during the initial three years (source-1).
In Kenya, the pre-DREAMS HIV incidence rate was approximately 0.7%, which is significantly lower than the rates observed in South Africa, where the pre-DREAMS incidence was around 6% (source-1). This context is crucial, as it suggests that while the program may have had some positive impacts, the assertion that "virtually all participants remained HIV-free" is misleading.
Analysis
The claim that "virtually all participants remained HIV-free" during their enrollment in the DREAMS program lacks empirical support. The studies evaluating the program's impact indicate that while there were reductions in HIV incidence, these reductions were not solely attributable to DREAMS and were part of a broader trend that began prior to the program's implementation (source-1).
The evidence suggests that the declines in HIV incidence among AGYW occurred alongside other interventions, such as increased access to HIV testing and treatment, which were already in place before DREAMS began (source-1). Furthermore, the study in Gem, Kenya, showed that while there were lower HIV incidence estimates during DREAMS implementation, the changes were not statistically significant, indicating that the program did not have the expected immediate effect on HIV incidence rates (source-1).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they are peer-reviewed studies published in reputable journals. However, it is important to note that the interpretation of the data can vary, and some reports may emphasize different aspects of the findings. Nonetheless, the overall consensus from the available research indicates that the claim is overstated.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "virtually all participants remained HIV-free" during their enrollment in the DREAMS program is misleading. While the program aimed to reduce HIV incidence among young women in Kenya, the evidence shows that significant declines in HIV incidence began before the program's implementation and did not accelerate during the first three years of DREAMS. Therefore, the assertion that all participants remained HIV-free is not supported by the data.
Sources
- Evaluating the impact of DREAMS on HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women: A population-based cohort study in Kenya and South Africa. Link
- Impact of the DREAMS Partnership on social support and general self-efficacy among adolescent girls and young women: causal analysis of population-based cohorts in Kenya and South Africa. Link
- Evaluating the impact of DREAMS on HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women. Link
- DREAMS Fact Sheet KENYA - U.S. Department of State. Link
- DREAMS program - Safe Futures Hub. Link
- The effects of the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) Partnership on HIV incidence. Link
- Program effects of DREAMS among adolescent girls and young women in Kenya. Link
