Status of HIV Epidemic Control Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Aged 15–24 Years — Seven African Countries, 2015–2017
Authors: Kristin Brown, Daniel B. Williams, Steve Kinchen, Suzue Saito, Elizabeth Radin, Hetal Patel, Andrea Low, Stephen Delgado, Owen Mugurungi, Godfrey Musuka, Beth A. Tippett Barr, E. Amaka Nwankwo-Igomu, Leala Ruangtragool, Avi J. Hakim, Thokozani Kalua, Rose Nyirenda, Gertrude Chipungu, Andrew Auld, Evelyn Kim, Danielle Payne, Nellie Wadonda-Kabondo, Christine West, Elizabeth Brennan, Beth Deutsch, Anteneh Worku, Sasi Jonnalagadda, Lloyd B. Mulenga, Kumbutso Dzekedzeke, Danielle T. Barradas, Haotian Cai, Sundeep Gupta, Stanley Kamocha, Margaret A. Riggs, Karampreet Sachathep, Wilford Kirungi, Joshua Musinguzi, Alex Opio, Sam Biraro, Elizabeth Bancroft, Jennifer Galbraith, Herbert Kiyingi, Mansoor Farahani, Wolfgang Hladik, Edith Nyangoma, Choice Ginindza, Zandile Masangane, Fortune Mhlanga, Zandile Mnisi, Pasipamire Munyaradzi, Amos Zwane, Sean Burke, Felix B. Kayigamba, Harriet Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha, Ruben Sahabo, Trong T. Ao, Chiara Draghi, Caroline Ryan, Neena M. Philip, Fausta Mosha, Aroldia Mulokozi, Phausta Ntigiti, Angela A. Ramadhani, Geoffrey R. Somi, Cecilia Makafu, Veronicah Mugisha, Julius Zelothe, Kayla Lavilla, David W. Lowrance, Rennatus Mdodo, Elizabeth Gummerson, Paul Stupp, Kyaw Thin, Koen Frederix, Stefania Davia, Amee M Schwitters, Stephen D. McCracken, Yen T. Duong, David Hoos, Bharat Parekh, Jessica E. Justman, Andrew C. Voetsch
Journal: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2018)

In 2016, an estimated 1.5 million females aged 15-24 years were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Eastern and Southern Africa, where the prevalence of HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women (3.4%) is more than double that for males in the same age range (1.6%) (1). Progress was assessed toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2020 targets for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa (90% of those with HIV infection aware of their status, 90% of HIV-infected persons aware of their status on antiretroviral treatment [ART], and 90% of those on treatment virally suppressed [HIV viral load <1,000 HIV RNA copies/mL]) (2) using data from recent Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) surveys in seven countries. The national prevalence of HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 years, the percentage who were aware of their status, and among those persons who were aware, the percentage who had achieved viral suppression were calculated. The target for viral suppression among all persons with HIV infection is 73% (the product of 90% x 90% x 90%). Among all seven countries, the prevalence of HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women was 3.6%; among those in this group, 46.3% reported being aware of their HIV-positive status, and 45.0% were virally suppressed. Sustained efforts by national HIV and public health programs to diagnose HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women as early as possible to ensure rapid initiation of ART should help achieve epidemic control among adolescent girls and young women.