Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe

Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere; Emmanuel Tachiwenyika; Dominica Dhakwa; Edewell Mugariri; Kennedy Yogo; Tidings Masoka; Getrude Ncube; Florence Mudokwani; Taurai Bhatasara; Taurayi Adriano Tafuma; Haurovi William Mafaune

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13

Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe

Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere, Emmanuel Tachiwenyika, Dominica Dhakwa, Edewell Mugariri, Kennedy Yogo, Tidings Masoka, Getrude Ncube, Florence Mudokwani, Taurai Bhatasara, Taurayi Adriano Tafuma, Haurovi William Mafaune

Published in International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 21 August 2023 Accepted: 11 September 2023 Published: 27 September 2023

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Abstract

Rapid increase in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Zimbabwe resulted in lockdown measures to curb further transmission. Participation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in HIV prevention programs was erratic during lockdown periods due to movement restrictions. We assessed completion of primary package sessions among AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) program before and during COVID-19 periods, in Bulawayo, Gweru and Mazowe districts. Secondary analysis of routine program data for AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the DREAMS program in Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mazowe districts was conducted. Data for the period 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020 (period before COVID-19) and 1 April 2020 to the 31 March 2021 (COVID-19 period) were extracted from the DREAMS District Heath information Systems (DHIS 2) database and analysed using SPSS generating descriptive statistics. Completion was defined as AGYW who went through and finished the HIV prevention, gender norms and financial literacy sessions after enrolment in DREAMS. Chi-square test was used to assess differences in completion rates between different categories of AGYW. Data for 52,300 AGYW enrolled in the DREAMS program were analysed and the median age was 15 years (IR, 7). Overall completion rate of primary package sessions in DREAMS program was 96.0% (50,184/52,300), with the completion rate before COVID-19 period being 96.8% (25,460/26,299) and 95.1% (24,724/26,001) during the COVID-19 period. Session completion before COVID-19 period was high among those in-school, out of school, age groups 15-19, 20-24, among young mothers, as well as Bulawayo and Gweru districts (p<0.001). Also, the 10-14 years old, people Living with HIV (PLHIV), and young women selling sex (YWSS) showed higher completion of primary package sessions before than during COVID-19 period. However, session completion for young mothers dropped from 97.5% before COVID-19 to 86.1% during COVID-19 period. Completion of DREAMS primary package sessions remained high during the COVID-19 period although it dropped by 1.7%. Despite travel and meeting restrictions during the COVID-19 period, session completion remained high, and this can be attributed to the use of virtual platforms and effective community follow-up mechanisms for AGYW invested by the DREAMS program. We recommend scaling up the DREAMS HIV prevention primary package sessions delivery models employed during COVID-19 period and improve session delivery strategies for young mothers to match the other categories of AGYW.

Published in	International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13
Page(s)	53-58
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Completion, DREAMS, Sessions, Primary Package, COVID-19

References

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[2]	Toska E, Gittings L, Hodes R, Cluver LD, Govender K, Chademana KE, et al. Resourcing resilience: social protection for HIV prevention amongst children and adolescents in Eastern and Southern Africa. Afr J AIDS Res. 2016; 15 (2): 123–40. pmid: 27399042; PubMed Central PMCID: PMCPMC5558245.
[3]	Wang B SB, Deveaux L, Li X, Koci V, Lunn S. The impact of parent involvement in an effective adolescent risk reduction intervention on sexual risk communication and adolescent outcomes. AIDS Educ Prev. 2014; 26 (6): 500–20. PubMed Central PMCID: PMCPMC4261929 pmid: 25490732.
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[5]	Mutenherwa F, Eghtessadi R, Dzinamarira T, Musuka G (2021) COVID-19 and its intersect with ethics and human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa. J Infect Dev Ctries 15: 910-12. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14795.
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[7]	Dzobo, M., Chitungo, I., Dzinamarira, T., (2019), COVID-19: a perspective for lifting lockdown in Zimbabwe. Pan Africa Medical Journal. 2020; 35 (2): 13. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.35.2.23059.
[8]	Butts SA, Parmley LE, Alcaide ML, et al. Let us fight and support one another: adolescent girls and young women on contributors and solutions to HIV risk in Zambia. Int J Womens Health. 2017; 9: 727-737. Published 2017 Sep 28. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S142232.
[9]	Wechsberg, W., Myers, B., Reed, E., Carney, T., Emanuel, A. N., & Browne, F. A. (2013). Substance use, gender inequity, violence, and sexual risk among couples in Cape Town. Culture, Health, and Sexuality, 15 (10), 1221–1236.
[10]	Eghtessadia R., Mukandavire Z, Mutenherwa F., Cuadrose D., Musukag G., (2020), Safeguarding gains in the sexual and reproductive health and AIDS response amidst COVID-19: The role of African civil society. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 100 (2020) 286-291.
[11]	U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), (2021)., Zimbabwe Country Operational Plan COP 2021. (Accessed 13 May 2023). https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Zimbabwe_SDS_Final-Public_Aug-11-2021.pdf
[12]	Hensen B, Hargreaves JR, Chiyaka T, et al (2018), Evaluating the impact of dreams on HIV incidence among young women who sell sex: protocol for a non-randomised study in Zimbabwe. BMC Public Health 2018; 18: 203. Burzynska K, Contreras G. Gendered effects of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet 2020; 395 (10242): 1968.
[13]	Mulwa S, Chimoyi L, Agbla S, Osindo J, Wambiya EO, Gourlay A, et al. (2021) Impact of the DREAMS interventions on educational attainment among adolescent girls and young women: Causal analysis of a prospective cohort in urban Kenya. PLoS ONE 16 (8): e0255165. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255165
[14]	Gourlay, A., Birdthistle, I., Mthiyane, N. T. et al. Awareness and uptake of layered HIV prevention programming for young women: analysis of population-based surveys in three DREAMS settings in Kenya and South Africa. BMC Public Health 19, 1417 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7766-1
[15]	da Silva IS. COVID-19 reveals digital divide as Africa struggles with distance learning Available from: https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/COVID-19-reveals-digitaldivide-as-africa-struggles-with-distance-learning-37299. 2020.
[16]	Yamakoshi B, Burgers L, Sagan S, Muralidharan A, Mahon T, Barrington D, et al. Brief: Mitigating the Impacts of COVID-19 and Menstrual Health and Hygiene Available from: https://api.research-repository.uwa.edu.au/portalfiles/portal/ 78218515/2020_Brief_on_mitigating_the_impacts_of_COVID_19_on_menstrual_health_and_hygiene_with_logos_27_April_2020.pdf. 2020.
[17]	Dube, N., Sithole, M & Nkala, P. 2012. Assessing the causes and effects of contemporary labour migration between Zimbabwe and South Africa. Paper presented at the Global Business and Technology Association Conference, New York, 10-14 July 2012.
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[19]	Kerrigan D, Mbwambo J, Likindikoki S, et al, (2019), Project Shikamana: community Empowerment-Based combination HIV prevention significantly impacts HIV incidence and care continuum outcomes among female sex workers in Iringa, Tanzania. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019; 82: 141–8. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002123.
[20]	Chabata ST, Hensen B, Chiyaka T, et al, (2021), The impact of the DREAMS partnership on HIV incidence among young women who sell sex in two Zimbabwean cities: results of a non-randomised studyBMJ Global Health 2021; 6: e003892.

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Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere, Emmanuel Tachiwenyika, Dominica Dhakwa, Edewell Mugariri, Kennedy Yogo, et al. (2023). Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 9(2), 53-58. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13

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ACS Style

Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere; Emmanuel Tachiwenyika; Dominica Dhakwa; Edewell Mugariri; Kennedy Yogo, et al. Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2023, 9(2), 53-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13

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AMA Style

Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere, Emmanuel Tachiwenyika, Dominica Dhakwa, Edewell Mugariri, Kennedy Yogo, et al. Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2023;9(2):53-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13,
  author = {Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere and Emmanuel Tachiwenyika and Dominica Dhakwa and Edewell Mugariri and Kennedy Yogo and Tidings Masoka and Getrude Ncube and Florence Mudokwani and Taurai Bhatasara and Taurayi Adriano Tafuma and Haurovi William Mafaune},
  title = {Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {53-58},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20230902.13},
  abstract = {Rapid increase in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Zimbabwe resulted in lockdown measures to curb further transmission. Participation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in HIV prevention programs was erratic during lockdown periods due to movement restrictions. We assessed completion of primary package sessions among AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) program before and during COVID-19 periods, in Bulawayo, Gweru and Mazowe districts. Secondary analysis of routine program data for AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the DREAMS program in Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mazowe districts was conducted. Data for the period 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020 (period before COVID-19) and 1 April 2020 to the 31 March 2021 (COVID-19 period) were extracted from the DREAMS District Heath information Systems (DHIS 2) database and analysed using SPSS generating descriptive statistics. Completion was defined as AGYW who went through and finished the HIV prevention, gender norms and financial literacy sessions after enrolment in DREAMS. Chi-square test was used to assess differences in completion rates between different categories of AGYW. Data for 52,300 AGYW enrolled in the DREAMS program were analysed and the median age was 15 years (IR, 7). Overall completion rate of primary package sessions in DREAMS program was 96.0% (50,184/52,300), with the completion rate before COVID-19 period being 96.8% (25,460/26,299) and 95.1% (24,724/26,001) during the COVID-19 period. Session completion before COVID-19 period was high among those in-school, out of school, age groups 15-19, 20-24, among young mothers, as well as Bulawayo and Gweru districts (p<0.001). Also, the 10-14 years old, people Living with HIV (PLHIV), and young women selling sex (YWSS) showed higher completion of primary package sessions before than during COVID-19 period. However, session completion for young mothers dropped from 97.5% before COVID-19 to 86.1% during COVID-19 period. Completion of DREAMS primary package sessions remained high during the COVID-19 period although it dropped by 1.7%. Despite travel and meeting restrictions during the COVID-19 period, session completion remained high, and this can be attributed to the use of virtual platforms and effective community follow-up mechanisms for AGYW invested by the DREAMS program. We recommend scaling up the DREAMS HIV prevention primary package sessions delivery models employed during COVID-19 period and improve session delivery strategies for young mothers to match the other categories of AGYW.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe
AU  - Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere
AU  - Emmanuel Tachiwenyika
AU  - Dominica Dhakwa
AU  - Edewell Mugariri
AU  - Kennedy Yogo
AU  - Tidings Masoka
AU  - Getrude Ncube
AU  - Florence Mudokwani
AU  - Taurai Bhatasara
AU  - Taurayi Adriano Tafuma
AU  - Haurovi William Mafaune
Y1  - 2023/09/27
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13
T2  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JF  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JO  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
SP  - 53
EP  - 58
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5765
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13
AB  - Rapid increase in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Zimbabwe resulted in lockdown measures to curb further transmission. Participation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in HIV prevention programs was erratic during lockdown periods due to movement restrictions. We assessed completion of primary package sessions among AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) program before and during COVID-19 periods, in Bulawayo, Gweru and Mazowe districts. Secondary analysis of routine program data for AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the DREAMS program in Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mazowe districts was conducted. Data for the period 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020 (period before COVID-19) and 1 April 2020 to the 31 March 2021 (COVID-19 period) were extracted from the DREAMS District Heath information Systems (DHIS 2) database and analysed using SPSS generating descriptive statistics. Completion was defined as AGYW who went through and finished the HIV prevention, gender norms and financial literacy sessions after enrolment in DREAMS. Chi-square test was used to assess differences in completion rates between different categories of AGYW. Data for 52,300 AGYW enrolled in the DREAMS program were analysed and the median age was 15 years (IR, 7). Overall completion rate of primary package sessions in DREAMS program was 96.0% (50,184/52,300), with the completion rate before COVID-19 period being 96.8% (25,460/26,299) and 95.1% (24,724/26,001) during the COVID-19 period. Session completion before COVID-19 period was high among those in-school, out of school, age groups 15-19, 20-24, among young mothers, as well as Bulawayo and Gweru districts (p<0.001). Also, the 10-14 years old, people Living with HIV (PLHIV), and young women selling sex (YWSS) showed higher completion of primary package sessions before than during COVID-19 period. However, session completion for young mothers dropped from 97.5% before COVID-19 to 86.1% during COVID-19 period. Completion of DREAMS primary package sessions remained high during the COVID-19 period although it dropped by 1.7%. Despite travel and meeting restrictions during the COVID-19 period, session completion remained high, and this can be attributed to the use of virtual platforms and effective community follow-up mechanisms for AGYW invested by the DREAMS program. We recommend scaling up the DREAMS HIV prevention primary package sessions delivery models employed during COVID-19 period and improve session delivery strategies for young mothers to match the other categories of AGYW.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe
Emmanuel Tachiwenyika

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe
Dominica Dhakwa

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe
Edewell Mugariri

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe
Kennedy Yogo

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tidings Masoka

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe
Getrude Ncube

AIDS and TB Unit, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe
Florence Mudokwani

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe
Taurai Bhatasara

Health Population and Nutrition, United States Agency for International Development, Harare, Zimbabwe
Taurayi Adriano Tafuma

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe
Haurovi William Mafaune

Department of Programs and Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zimbabwe Health Interventions, Harare, Zimbabwe

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APA Style

Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere, Emmanuel Tachiwenyika, Dominica Dhakwa, Edewell Mugariri, Kennedy Yogo, et al. (2023). Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 9(2), 53-58. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13

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ACS Style

Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere; Emmanuel Tachiwenyika; Dominica Dhakwa; Edewell Mugariri; Kennedy Yogo, et al. Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2023, 9(2), 53-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13

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AMA Style

Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere, Emmanuel Tachiwenyika, Dominica Dhakwa, Edewell Mugariri, Kennedy Yogo, et al. Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2023;9(2):53-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13,
  author = {Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere and Emmanuel Tachiwenyika and Dominica Dhakwa and Edewell Mugariri and Kennedy Yogo and Tidings Masoka and Getrude Ncube and Florence Mudokwani and Taurai Bhatasara and Taurayi Adriano Tafuma and Haurovi William Mafaune},
  title = {Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {53-58},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20230902.13},
  abstract = {Rapid increase in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Zimbabwe resulted in lockdown measures to curb further transmission. Participation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in HIV prevention programs was erratic during lockdown periods due to movement restrictions. We assessed completion of primary package sessions among AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) program before and during COVID-19 periods, in Bulawayo, Gweru and Mazowe districts. Secondary analysis of routine program data for AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the DREAMS program in Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mazowe districts was conducted. Data for the period 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020 (period before COVID-19) and 1 April 2020 to the 31 March 2021 (COVID-19 period) were extracted from the DREAMS District Heath information Systems (DHIS 2) database and analysed using SPSS generating descriptive statistics. Completion was defined as AGYW who went through and finished the HIV prevention, gender norms and financial literacy sessions after enrolment in DREAMS. Chi-square test was used to assess differences in completion rates between different categories of AGYW. Data for 52,300 AGYW enrolled in the DREAMS program were analysed and the median age was 15 years (IR, 7). Overall completion rate of primary package sessions in DREAMS program was 96.0% (50,184/52,300), with the completion rate before COVID-19 period being 96.8% (25,460/26,299) and 95.1% (24,724/26,001) during the COVID-19 period. Session completion before COVID-19 period was high among those in-school, out of school, age groups 15-19, 20-24, among young mothers, as well as Bulawayo and Gweru districts (p<0.001). Also, the 10-14 years old, people Living with HIV (PLHIV), and young women selling sex (YWSS) showed higher completion of primary package sessions before than during COVID-19 period. However, session completion for young mothers dropped from 97.5% before COVID-19 to 86.1% during COVID-19 period. Completion of DREAMS primary package sessions remained high during the COVID-19 period although it dropped by 1.7%. Despite travel and meeting restrictions during the COVID-19 period, session completion remained high, and this can be attributed to the use of virtual platforms and effective community follow-up mechanisms for AGYW invested by the DREAMS program. We recommend scaling up the DREAMS HIV prevention primary package sessions delivery models employed during COVID-19 period and improve session delivery strategies for young mothers to match the other categories of AGYW.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Completion of Primary Package Sessions by Adolescent Girls and Young Women Before and During COVID-19 Period: Case of DREAMS Program in Zimbabwe
AU  - Fungai Hamilton Mudzengerere
AU  - Emmanuel Tachiwenyika
AU  - Dominica Dhakwa
AU  - Edewell Mugariri
AU  - Kennedy Yogo
AU  - Tidings Masoka
AU  - Getrude Ncube
AU  - Florence Mudokwani
AU  - Taurai Bhatasara
AU  - Taurayi Adriano Tafuma
AU  - Haurovi William Mafaune
Y1  - 2023/09/27
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13
T2  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JF  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JO  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
SP  - 53
EP  - 58
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5765
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.13
AB  - Rapid increase in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Zimbabwe resulted in lockdown measures to curb further transmission. Participation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in HIV prevention programs was erratic during lockdown periods due to movement restrictions. We assessed completion of primary package sessions among AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) program before and during COVID-19 periods, in Bulawayo, Gweru and Mazowe districts. Secondary analysis of routine program data for AGYW aged 10-24 years enrolled in the DREAMS program in Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mazowe districts was conducted. Data for the period 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020 (period before COVID-19) and 1 April 2020 to the 31 March 2021 (COVID-19 period) were extracted from the DREAMS District Heath information Systems (DHIS 2) database and analysed using SPSS generating descriptive statistics. Completion was defined as AGYW who went through and finished the HIV prevention, gender norms and financial literacy sessions after enrolment in DREAMS. Chi-square test was used to assess differences in completion rates between different categories of AGYW. Data for 52,300 AGYW enrolled in the DREAMS program were analysed and the median age was 15 years (IR, 7). Overall completion rate of primary package sessions in DREAMS program was 96.0% (50,184/52,300), with the completion rate before COVID-19 period being 96.8% (25,460/26,299) and 95.1% (24,724/26,001) during the COVID-19 period. Session completion before COVID-19 period was high among those in-school, out of school, age groups 15-19, 20-24, among young mothers, as well as Bulawayo and Gweru districts (p<0.001). Also, the 10-14 years old, people Living with HIV (PLHIV), and young women selling sex (YWSS) showed higher completion of primary package sessions before than during COVID-19 period. However, session completion for young mothers dropped from 97.5% before COVID-19 to 86.1% during COVID-19 period. Completion of DREAMS primary package sessions remained high during the COVID-19 period although it dropped by 1.7%. Despite travel and meeting restrictions during the COVID-19 period, session completion remained high, and this can be attributed to the use of virtual platforms and effective community follow-up mechanisms for AGYW invested by the DREAMS program. We recommend scaling up the DREAMS HIV prevention primary package sessions delivery models employed during COVID-19 period and improve session delivery strategies for young mothers to match the other categories of AGYW.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

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