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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2024 Jul 15.
Published in final edited form as: AIDS Educ Prev. 2023 Jul;35:20–38. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2023.35.suppA.20

TABLE 1.

DREAMS Eligibility Criteria for Adolescent Girls and Young Women and Corresponding Indicators and Questionnaire Items From Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys, by Age Band

DREAMS Criteria VACS Survey Indicators
AGYW ages 10–14 years AGYW ages 13–14 years
 Ever had sex  Ever had vaginal, anal, or oral sex
 History of pregnancy  Ever experienced pregnancy
 Lifetime experience of sexual violence  Ever experienced sexual violence
 Physical or emotional violence in the past year  Experienced physical violence or emotional violence in the previous 12 months
 Early alcohol use  Ever drank alcohol (more than a sip)
 Out of school  Not currently attending school
 Orphanhood  One or both biological parents deceased
AGYW ages 15–19 years AGYW ages 15–19 years
 Lifetime experience of sexual violence  Ever experienced sexual violence
 Recent heavy alcohol use  4 drinks in a row any time in the past 30 days
 Out of school  15–17: not current enrolled in school; 18–19: never attended school
 Orphanhood  One or both biological parents deceased before the 18th birthday
 Multiple sexual partners in the past year  Had two or more sexual partners in the previous 12 months
 History of pregnancy  Ever been pregnant
 Sexually transmitted infection  Ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection
 Transactional sex (including staying in a relationship for material or financial support) in the past 12 months  Ever exchanging sex for food, money, goods, or other favors
 Irregular or no condom use  No or irregular condom use with a nonmarital partner or with any partner if more than one sexual partner for those who are married
AGYW ages 20–24 years AGYW ages 20–24 years
 Lifetime experience of sexual violence  Ever experienced sexual violence
 Recent heavy alcohol use  4 drinks in a row any time in the past 30 days
 Multiple sexual partners in the past year  Had two or more sexual partners in the previous 12 months
 Sexually transmitted infection  Ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection
 Transactional sex (including staying in a relationship for material or financial support) in the past 12 months  Ever exchanging sex for food, money, goods, or other favors
 Irregular or no condom use  No or irregular condom use with a nonmarital partner or with any partner if more than one sexual partner for those who are married

Note. DREAMS = Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe; AGYW = adolescent girls and young women.