{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,7]],"date-time":"2026-05-07T12:10:39Z","timestamp":1778155839645,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,7]],"date-time":"2026-05-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778112000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Franceville"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Children, adolescents and young adults living with HIV represent a vulnerable population. Achieving viral suppression in this population remains a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV-positive individuals aged 0\u201324 years in Gabon. Data were collected, including viral load (VL), CD4 counts, and immunosuppression levels. Viral suppression was defined as VL &lt; 1000 copies\/mL. Statistical comparisons across age groups and immunosuppression categories were performed. Results: Of the 130 (100%) participants included, 59 (45.4%) were males and 71 (54.6%) females. Overall, 72 (55.4%) achieved viral suppression, while 58 (44.6%) remained uncontrolled. Viral suppression increased with age (23.8% (5\/21) in 0\u20137 years; 29.2% (14\/48) in 8\u201315 year and 42.6% (26\/61) in 16\u201324 years), yet uncontrolled VL were predominant across all groups. Median VL values were low but showed wide interquartile ranges, indicating heterogeneity in viral control. Mean CD4 counts declined significantly with age (780 in 0\u20138 years vs. 470 in 16\u201324 years; p = 0.001). Immunosuppression levels correlated inversely with virological control (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Despite moderate overall viral suppression, nearly half of adolescents and young adults failed to achieve virological control. The decline in CD4 counts with age highlights increased vulnerability in this population.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens15050502","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,7]],"date-time":"2026-05-07T10:39:47Z","timestamp":1778150387000},"page":"502","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Challenges in Achieving Viral Suppression Among Adolescents and Young Adults Under a Dolutegravir-Based Regimen: Living with HIV in Gabon"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0662-6752","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Berthold","family":"Bivigou-Mboumba","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit\u00e9 Mixte de Recherche CIRMF-SSM, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Franceville, Libreville BP 8507, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2730-5774","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pamela","family":"Moussavou-Boundzanga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Biologie, Universit\u00e9 des Sciences et Technique de Masuku (USTM), Franceville BP 901, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Falone L.","family":"Akombi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit\u00e9 Mixte de Recherche CIRMF-SSM, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Franceville, Libreville BP 8507, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-1902-3762","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carine","family":"Eyi Zang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Service de P\u00e9diatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Rue Pierre Barro, Libreville BP 2254, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Aurore F.","family":"Bouassa-Bouassa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit\u00e9 Mixte de Recherche CIRMF-SSM, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Franceville, Libreville BP 8507, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sahara","family":"Luzolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre de Traitement Ambulatoire P\u00e9diatrique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Libreville, 38 Rue Docteur KONG, Libreville BP 2228, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"P\u00e9lagie","family":"Okome","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Service de P\u00e9diatrie, H\u00f4pital d\u2019Instruction des Arm\u00e9es Omar Bongo Ondimba (HIA-OBO), Libreville BP 20404, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3143-1060","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Augustin","family":"Mouinga-Ondeme","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit\u00e9 des Infections R\u00e9trovirales et Pathologies Associ\u00e9es, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Franceville, Franceville BP 769, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4069-3791","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Simon","family":"Ategbo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Service de P\u00e9diatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Rue Pierre Barro, Libreville BP 2254, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"UNICEF (Fast Facts, 2025). 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