Looking for the future - Hope and adolescent risk behaviour in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

We investigate the relationship between hope and risky behaviour and the role of migration among young people in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We use data from a cohort of  = 5248 adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 13-35 recruited and followed up in 2017-2019. We conducted a structured quantitative survey to assess levels of hope among AYA using a validated tool/scale.

Drug therapy problems among paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Introduction: Several studies reported that drug therapy problems (DTPs) were prevalent in cancer patients. These DTPs are still interfering with the desired treatment outcomes in patients with cancer. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, types and predictors of DTPs among paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Impact of DREAMS interventions on attitudes towards gender norms among adolescent girls and young women: Findings from a prospective cohort in Kenya.

The DREAMS partnership aims to deliver a comprehensive package to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), including through shifting gender norms. We evaluate DREAMS' effect on attitudes towards gender norms in two Kenyan settings. AGYW aged 15-22 in Nairobi (n = 852) and Gem (n = 761) were randomly selected for cohort enrolment in 2017-18 and followed-up to 2019.

Prevalence and risk factors of sexually transmitted infections in the setting of a generalized HIV epidemic-a population-based study, western Kenya.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause adverse health outcomes, including increasing HIV acquisition/transmission risk. We analyzed data from an HIV biomarker and behavioral survey to estimate STI prevalence, and explore associated factors in the setting of a generalized HIV epidemic in Siaya County, western Kenya.

Methods: Data were collected in March-September 2022 through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires; records from 9643 sexually active participants aged 13+ years were included in the analysis.

Impact of DREAMS interventions on experiences of violence among adolescent girls and young women: Findings from population-based cohort studies in Kenya and South Africa.

DREAMS aims to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) by tackling drivers of HIV risk including gender-based violence. We evaluate the impact of DREAMS on recent experiences of violence perpetuated by men against AGYW. AGYW cohorts were randomly selected from demographic platforms in South Africa (rural KwaZulu-Natal) and Kenya (Nairobi informal settlements and rural Gem sub-county).

HIV Risk Factors and Risk Perception Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Results From a Population-Based Survey in Western Kenya, 2018.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) is 2-fold to 3-fold higher than that in adolescent boys and young men. Understanding AGYW's perception of HIV risk is essential for HIV prevention efforts.

Methods: We analyzed data from a HIV biobehavioral survey conducted in western Kenya in 2018.

DREAMS impact on HIV status knowledge and sexual risk among cohorts of young women in Kenya and South Africa.

Objectives: We sought evidence of DREAMS' impact on uptake of services and sexual risk among adolescent-girls-and-young-women (AGYW).

Design: Cohorts of AGYW aged 13-22 years were randomly selected in 2017-2018 and followed-up to 2019; 1081 in Nairobi, Kenya;1171 in Gem, western Kenya;and 2184 in uMkhanyakude, South Africa.

Methods: Outcomes were knowledge of HIV status, condomless sex (past 12 months), lifetime partners, transactional sex (past 12 months), and awareness and use of condoms and pre-exposure-prophylaxis (PrEP).

Awareness and uptake of the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe HIV prevention package over time among population-based cohorts of young women in Kenya and South Africa.

Objectives: To evaluate uptake of a complex intervention for HIV prevention among general populations of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in three diverse settings.

Design: Cohorts of ∼1500 AGYW were randomly selected from demographic platforms in Kenya (Nairobi and Siaya) and South Africa (uMkhanyakude, KwaZulu-Natal).

Methods: AGYW aged 13/15-22 years were enrolled in 2017 (Nairobi and uMkha-nyakude) or 2018 (Siaya), with annual follow-up to 2019.

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.

Introduction: The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) Partnership aimed to influence psychosocial processes that promote empowerment among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and reduce HIV incidence. We estimated the impact of DREAMS on aspects of AGYW's collective and individual agency (specifically, social support and self-efficacy), in three settings where DREAMS was implemented from 2016 until at least end 2018.

Methods: Research cohorts of ~1500 AGYW aged 13-22 were randomly selected from demographic platforms in Kenya (Nairobi; Gem) and South Africa (uMkhanyakude) and followed up from 2017 to 2019.