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Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) bear a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa, yet the prevalence of HIV testing for this demographic varies significantly. This study examines HIV testing patterns among AGYW across 28 countries in sub-Saharan Africa using large-scale survey data to identify testing prevalence along with demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors associated with testing uptake. The…
This study evaluates knowledge of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among sexually active adolescent girls and young women (AGWY) in Eswatini, a population disproportionately at risk of and affected by HIV. It finds that PEP awareness was low, highlighting gaps in access to HIV prevention knowledge among this population despite their elevated risk. The findings underscore the importance of integrating PEP education into HIV prevention…
This article explores factors that protect adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) from the interconnected risks of HIV exposure, gender-based violence (GBV), and adolescent pregnancy in Kenya. The study finds that gender-equitable attitudes, food security, and strong parental monitoring are all associated with lower risks of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, and adolescent pregnancy, with the strongest protective…
This article highlights how gender-related social and structural inequalities continue to shape HIV vulnerability and outcomes, particularly for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Based on a study in Zimbabwe, it demonstrates that positive parenting, food security, and equitable-gender attitudes are development accelerators that improve AGYW HIV outcomes. The authors argue that achieving better HIV outcomes requires gender-transformative…
This research paper explores the importance of integrating mental health services into PrEP delivery, based on the experiences of a cohort of South African adolescent girls and young women. Previous research has shown that AGYW who may benefit from PrEP also face high rates of mental disorders. With a focus on integrating mental health treatment as supported by this research, PrEP adherence amongst AGYW may increase signficantly.
This research led to the development of a framework for understanding PrEP stigma among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. This framework includes potential drivers and facilitators of stigma as well as resulting outcomes and health impacts. It provides insight into effective areas for intervention, and thus is a useful tool for the design and evaluation of future interventions.
Adolescents and young adults living with or affected by HIV have specific needs and priorities that are currently unmet by the global HIV response. This document provides evidence-based recommendations for interventions targeted towards adolescents and young adults based on WHO guidelines.
Nomonde Ngema, a young HIV activist, shares her experiences as a young woman living with HIV. She discusses her journey to advocacy, her mission and accomplishments, including her unique and powerful use of TikTok to spread awareness and empower others.
This study assesses the merits of an economic strengthening program for HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women. The program showed great promise, as participants gained valuable skills, increased confidence and hope, and demonstrated shifts away from risky behaviors to protective ones.
Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, strongly entrenched patriarchal structures deprive young women of their agency and autonomy. This impedes their ability to safely navigate sexual experiences and engage in protective health behaviors, exacerbating their risk of acquiring HIV. Conducted in Uganda, this research paper explores the understudied relationship between limited autonomy and higher rates of HIV infection among young women.
This fact sheet shares important facts and figures that describe the state of the HIV epidemic for adolescent girls and young women. These statistics demonstrate the disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic that adolescent girls and young women still face, especially as compared to their male counterparts. In 2022, there were an estimated 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women living with HIV, and comparably fewer--1.2 million--…
This study assesses the prevalence of HIV-related and/or risky behaviors among male partners of AGYW. The results highlight the need for targeted HIV prevention interventions for men to reduce both their own risk and the risk of transmission to their female partners.
Although disproportionately affected by HIV, adolescent girls and young women, particularly those living with HIV, are often the strongest advocates and leaders in the response. Ensuring they know their rights and have the skills and opportunities to claim them is crucial to removing barriers to life-saving HIV services, achieving gender equality, and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The publication documents results, learnings,…
This study identifies HIV-related inequalities among adolescent girls and young women of different socioeconomic backgrounds in Latin America and the Caribbean. The results indicate increased vulnerability amongst economically disadvantaged young women, due to less comprehensive knowledge about HIV, transmission mechanisms, and prevention methods.
Young women and girls who are affected by punitive drug policy face unique age-related as well as gender-specific risks, barriers and rights violations that are not well recognized or responded to by policymakers or service providers. Parental consent combined with minimum age restrictions to medical treatment as well as harm reduction services create access barriers for this cohort. This article examines these issues to highlight the importance…
The AIDS response has taught the world the importance of protecting human rights and promoting gender equality when fighting a disease. COVID-19 has amplified that lesson. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNAIDS has repeated the call that governments must protect human rights and prevent and address gender-based violence—an issue that is even more vital now that lockdowns are putting women and girls at an even higher risk of intimate…
The analysis demonstrated that adolescent girls and young women with the higher vulnerability profiles, including the impact of unequal gender norms, have increased odds of negative health outcomes and experiences. The analysis calls upon tailoring community-based HIV prevention efforts by deferentially targeting/tailoring interventions and health services for sub-populations in higher versus lower HIV vulnerability profiles. Across…
UNAIDS report on the global AIDS pandemic 2020 shows that women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa continue to be the most affected and accounted for 59% of all new HIV infections in the region in 2019, with 4500 adolescent girls and young women between 15 and 24 years old becoming infected with HIV every week. Young women accounted for 24% of new HIV infections in 2019, despite making up only 10% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa.
The aim of the present study was to assess the level of self-esteem and Hope among HIV positive Adolescents across gender. The researcher considered perinatally infected Adolescent boys and girls who are HIV Positive, currently living in a HIV care and support centre.
On Zero Discrimination Day this year, UNAIDS is challenging the discrimination faced by women and girls in all their diversity in order to raise awareness and mobilize action to promote equality and empowerment for women and girls.