FOUND 627
The Joint Statement on Ending Discrimination in Health Care Settings, signed by twelve United Nations entities, urges stakeholders to take a targeted approach to end discriminatory laws and policies, empower health workers and users of health services, support the accountability and compliance of non-discrimination and implement the United Nations Shared Framework for Action on Combating Inequalities and Discrimination. 
The International Partnership for Microbicides' (IPM) 2016 Annual Report looks back at their monthly dapivirine ring to be the first microbicide and long-acting product to reduce women's risk of HIV in two Phase III trials. The report highlights the dapivirine ring and other milestones to add new tools to women's HIV prevention options.
Data from the Minnesota Department of Health HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report (2015) show that African-born women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. In 2015, these women accounted for more than half (54%) of all new cases of HIV reported among females in Minnesota and 34% of all known female cases in the state.The primary objective of this study was to gain an insight into the strategies that will limit the spread of HIV infection…
Adolescents are one sixth of the world's population and account for 6% of the world's global burden of disease and injury. Over 3,000 adolescents die every day from largely preventable causes. In 2015, the top causes of adolescent girls' included HIV/AIDS and maternal conditions. This guidance assists governments to support country implementation to improve the health of their adolescents through evidence, case studies, a summary document, a…
Malawi has undertaken a "test-and-treat" approach to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, known as Option B+. This approach offers all pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) regardless of CD4 count or clinical stage. A cross-sectional, qualitative study explored experiences surrounding Option B+ for patients and health care workers in Malawi. Results found that patients and health care…
This report draws on analyses of national survey data and literature review results to provide an overview of the evidence on key aspects of sexual and reproductive health among very young adolescents aged 10–14 living in developing regions. Analyses showed that while most young adolescents report never having experienced sexual intercourse, some had begun to explore non-coital sexual activities. Many young adolescents who had experienced sexual…
A cross-sectional survey among migrants' wives in two rural villages of Chitwan district, Nepal aimed to measure knowledge and attitudes around HIV and STIs and to understand women's risk perception of HIV due to their husbands' sexual behavior. Results found that nearly all (94%) of women had a good knowledge of HIV, yet, nearly half the women reported being unable to talk to their husbands about HIV and STIs, even if they suspected risk of…
An unmet need for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV services is substantial in developing countries, particularly among older adolescent girls and young women. This editorial describes the key lessons from the Link Up project, aimed to improve the SRHR of young people most affected by HIV in five countries of Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia and Uganda) and Asia (Bangladesh and Myanmar).   
This study aimed to determine if integrated family planning and HIV services led to an increased use of more effective contraception and decreased pregnancy rates. Results found that use of effective contraception increased and incidence of pregnancy decreased in study sites with integrated services, as compared to the control sites. 
This toolkit was developed based on the experiences of women living with HIV engaged in the processes of New Funding Model for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) at community, national, regional and global levels. It contains experiences of women living with HIV through In-Country Dialogues, Performance Reviews of the National Strategic Plans 2011-12 in Kenya and Uganda, participation of women in the Joint Inter-…
This report brings attention to achieving gender equality in the context of women, girls, and the HIV response. This six-month consultation in 2016 with adolescent women and young girls found that #WhatWomenWant is: collaboration and joint action by all to invest in women's HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), to be leaders and articulate the priorities of women and girls in all their diversity, and to speak to the new…
This doctoral research project explores the experiences of women growing older with HIV in London, United Kingdom. It has a specific focus on women and the gendered experiences of ageing with HIV, in terms of community, social support, and health care needs. The research uses a feminist methodology along with participatory and narrative methods. 
This study aimed to better understand how couples involvement with SASA!, a violence against women and HIV-related community mobilisation intervention, influenced processes of change in relationships. Qualitative data were collected from each partner in separate interviews. Findings suggested that SASA! engagement contributed to degrees of change at the individual and relationship levels. SASA! activities, such as reflection around healthy…
This publication provides a framework on women's rights, in the context of Africa. It goes on to conceptualize rights on equality between women and men, gender, intersectionality and multiple forms of discrimination, and more. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) is positioned in the current context, including HIV in the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights…
UNAIDS' report shows an urgent need to scale HIV prevention and treatment services for women and girls. It provides up-to-date statistics on the status of women and girls living with HIV, 18.6 million as of 2015. It highlights current global commitments for women and girls' health and development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 2016 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on Ending AIDS. 
"Globally, women make up one third of people who abuse drugs but just one fifth of those who are in treatment," the report states. The 'Women and Drugs' chapter provides global data on the linkages between women who use drugs and HIV (page 4). 
This executive summary provides organizations, institutions, and individuals existing guidance, new recommendations, and good practice to better address the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women living with HIV (WLHIV). It is geared towards providing health care workers, programme managers, and public health policy makers recommendations to fulfill these rights and ensure WLHIV experience better care and more enabling…
Friends may be an important influence for young women's risk of HIV infection as they serve as a medium to discuss norms about gender and sexuality and are a social network through which young women form sexual partnerships. In 2011, young women participating in a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) trial in South Africa were asked about their friendships in detail. Results showed that friends' characteristics were linked to: a young woman's…
This article evaluates the safety and efficacy of a vaginal ring containing dapivirine for the prevention of HIV infection in nearly 2,000 women of reproductive age from South Africa and Uganda. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and it found that the dapivirine ring was not associated with any safety concerns and was associated with a lower rate of HIV-1 infection than the placebo rate.
This editorial discusses new HIV prevention methods for women and how they have fared in clinical trials, including major challenges in prevention of HIV infection of women. Dr. Adimora stresses the importance of diverse HIV intervention methods that adopt to women in different life stages and their needs.