Impact of the DREAMS Program on New HIV Diagnoses in Adolescent Girls and Young Women Attending Antenatal Care - Lesotho, 2015-2020

What is already known about this topic? During 2016–2017, HIV prevalence among adolescent girls and young women in Lesotho was approximately three times that among young men. The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) program was established in 2016 to decrease HIV incidence among young women. What is added by this report? New HIV diagnoses among adolescent girls and young women attending antenatal care decreased significantly in both DREAMS and non-DREAMS districts, although reductions were greater in DREAMS districts. What are the implications for public health practice? Apart from DREAMS, the decrease in new HIV diagnoses might be a result of the reduction in viral load in the population because more persons living with HIV infection became virally suppressed while on antiviral therapy, preexposure prophylaxis, voluntary medical male circumcision, behavior change, and increased HIV diagnostic coverage.