Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40549781›Full record

ArticlePLOS global public health2025

Impact of a multilevel HIV prevention programme on adolescent girls and young women's empowerment for risk reduction: A mixed methods evaluation in Kenya.

Elizabeth Kemigisha, Jane Osindo, Vivienne Kamire, Venetia Baker, Annabelle Gourlay, Stephen Gakuo, Sarah Mulwa, Faith Magut, Thomas Gachie, Moses Otieno and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLOS global public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Elizabeth KemigishaAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9137-8014
Jane OsindoAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4843-5586
Vivienne KamireCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Venetia BakerFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom.
Annabelle GourlayFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4387-1925
Stephen GakuoAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya.
Sarah MulwaFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom.
Faith MagutFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9758-2697
Thomas GachieFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom.
Moses OtienoCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9977-8220
Sammy KhagayiCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Daniel KwaroCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Sian FloydFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom.
Abdhalah ZirabaAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya.
Isolde BirdthistleFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5742-6588

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Empowerment is key to person-centered HIV prevention. This study aims to evaluate the extent to which the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, Safe (DREAMS) Partnership promotes empowerment of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Kenya. We conducted a mixed-methods study to examine DREAMS influence on empowerment precursors (resources, agency, institutional structures) and outcomes, guided by Kabeer's framework for women's empowerment. With representative cohorts of AGYW aged 13-22, followed since 2017/18, we estimated the impact of DREAMS on social support and self-efficacy by 2022. With a nested sample of cohort participants in 2022, we conducted qualitative inquiry through in-depth interviews and participatory action learning with DREAMS participants, implementers, and community members, for evidence of mechanisms, achievement and contextual influences on AGYW empowerment. We found statistical evidence of a causal impact of DREAMS on social support and self-efficacy among adolescent girls. Qualitatively, DREAMS enhanced AGYW's access to and control of resources, including coveted material assets like educational subsidies, hygiene products, and business support, which reportedly reduced transactional sex through economic autonomy and bodily integrity. DREAMS enhanced intangible resources like HIV knowledge and financial skills. Greater confidence, courage, and critical consciousness enabled some AGYW to act on health choices, assume leadership roles, and continue education. In mentor-led activities, AGYW demonstrated collective action and solidarity and group saving skills for financial autonomy. DREAMS aimed to engage the broader community including leaders, parents, and young men, but social structures, dominant gender norms, gender-based violence, and widespread poverty mitigated its empowering impact for AGYW. We found compelling evidence that DREAMS strengthened many young women's access to and control of resources and their intrinsic and collective agency. These are important precursors to empowerment but insufficient for the transformation of power relations without supportive institutional structures, including gender-equitable norms and viable livelihood strategies.

Identifiers

PMID40549781
PMCPMC12185012

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.