The ‘Magic Bullet’ for HIV Viral Suppression? How Fixed-dose Combination Dolutegravir Antiretrovirals are Improving Viral Suppression among Children 10–14 Years on Antiretroviral Therapy in Zambia

Globally, viral suppression among children living with HIV (CLHIV) is at 40% compared with 67% among adults (UNAIDS, 2021). Zambia faced a similar challenge, which was compounded by limited availability of the more palatable and highly efficacious fixed-dose combination dolutegravir (DTG)-containing antiretrovirals, until pediatric ART guidelines were launched in 2020. In November 2020, with increased availability of pediatric DTG-containing antiretrovirals in the national ART program, the USAID DISCOVER-Health Project, implemented by JSI, started initiating and transitioning 10–14-year old CLHIV to DTG-containing regimens, in line with national HIV guidelines. This abstract was shared at the AIDS 2022 Conference.