31 July 2017
New research in KwaZuluNatal, South Africa found that among pregnant women with no previous history of intimate partner violence, those who were diagnosed with HIV were twice as likely to suffer from intimate partner violence compared to those not diagnosed with HIV. According to Dr. Ali Groves, lead researcher, these findings can translate beyond South Africa as factors that contribute to women living with HIV's…
27 July 2017
In many areas of the world, women suffer from vulnerabilities that increase their risk of contracting HIV. Gender disparities contribute to harmful patterns that suppress female agency including societal expectations for women to be submissive, relationships between young women and older men, oppressive sexual relationships, as well as gender-based violence (GBV). This article by the Global Fund highlights the importance of…
7 August 2017
This interview by Dr. Tiffany Aholou of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares up-to-date findings of the status of HIV among women in the United States. Of all women living with HIV, 78% are African American and Latina. The findings of the study revealed that non-Hispanic black women had the highest risk of concurrent sex partnerships and sex with perceived non-monogamous sex partners, often…
This qualitative study examines women's experiences with antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention in Option B+ care among 39 pregnant and lactating women in Bwaila Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi. Study participants included 14 in care and 25 out of care women, according to facility records. One of the most important factors influencing adherence and retention was the strength of women’s support systems. In contrast to women in-care,…
This report gives a detailed analysis of progress and challenges towards achieving the 90-90-90 targets. It shows that, for the first time, over of half all people living with HIV have access to HIV-related treatment. In 2016, 19.5 million of the 36.7 million people living with HIV had access to treatment, and AIDS-related deaths have fallen from 1.9 million in 2005 to 1 million in 2016. Provided that scale-up continues, this progress puts…
12 July 2017
At the London Family Planning Summit's Spotlight Session on 'Transitions to Adulthood and the Importance of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights to Girls' Empowerment' Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women's Executive Director, spoke of the high rates of new HIV infections, gender-based violence and childbirth complications young women and girls face. She stressed the need for scaling comprehensive sexuality education which…
13 July 2017
Professor Angela Kaida, from Simon Fraser University in Canada, will continue to help shape health policies and programmes to support HIV-affected women safely achieve their sexual and reproductive health. Her work spans across Uganda and South Africa and Canada. Currently, she conducts research with the Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS), examining the impact of women-centered HIV…
14 July 2017
Prudence Mabele, a guiding activist for people living with HIV, passed away on 10 July 2017. In 1992, two years after her HIV diagnosis, she became one of the first black women in South Africa to publicly disclose her HIV status. She did so to break the silence and stigma around HIV and encourage other women living with HIV to live without shame, seek treatment and lead happy and fulfilled lives. Mabele started South Africa…
13 June 2017
In the deeply conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where women are not allowed outdoors unless accompanied by closely-related male family members, women face social and physical restrictions to accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART). The Ministry of Health is looking to provide at-home ART for women living with HIV to ensure they receive treatment despite their mobility restrictions. A study conducted in this area of…
11 July 2017
South Africa's leading advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS and a respected gender activist, Prudence Nobantu Mabel, has died. Mabel was the President for the Society for Women and Aids in Africa, the Founder and Executive Director of the Positive Women's Network and Deputy chair of the South African National AIDS Council.
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10 July 2017
The Mahe Declaration, adopted by parliament members of 14 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum countries, commits to addressing root causes of HIV among women and young girls by reducing poverty and ensuring access to quality health services and information. Participants of the forum also recommended that women and girls have access to education, ending child marriage practices and protecting…
10 July 2017
Global HIV leaders have committed to ensuring young people affected by HIV/AIDS play an integral part in shaping new research and policies to strengthen HIV prevention, testing and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. The agreement was made during a special roundtable organised by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the charity Sentebale and its Co-Founding Patron Prince Harry. The Prince met researchers…
28 June 2017
A qualitative study of 39 Malawian women who had started antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding found that 25 of them had dropped out of treatment. Lack of social support after diagnosis and inadequate counselling about HIV treatment and disclosure were identified as key reasons for dropping out of treatment after starting. The study also notes a lack of evidence from the women's perspective on barriers…
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.
30 June 2017
AIDS related illness remains the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age in Kenya. According to UNAIDS, intimate partner violence has been identified as one of the key drivers of HIV transmission, particularly in rural areas. To better address the impact of HIV on young women and adolescent girls, the government requires better programming integrating sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV services…
30 June 2017
Civil Society Organisations, United Nations agencies and other partners are working with the South African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum to hold the first ever Women’s Parliament in Seychelles next week on 5-6 July 2017. The meeting will bring together SADC women members of parliament and their worldwide counterparts to critically discuss and sustain the engagement of parliaments to implement the United…
22 June 2017
A workshop conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal with development agencies, government and civil society focused on the importance of comprehensive sexuality education in schools to provide students with information about gender roles, reproductive health, HIV, adolescent pregnancy and gender equality. Comprehensive sexuality education goes beyond anatomy and physiology of sex, including education around relationships, values,…
24 June 2017
At the first Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference of the Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA), Dr. St John stressed the importance of improving sexual and reproductive health and rights to address the countries' high sexually transmitted infection rates, prevent and treat HIV and promote gender equality and opportunities for young people.
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22 June 2017
Musicians Raheem DeVaugn and Goapele joined forces with AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Chicago-based South Side Help Center (SSHC) to present "RISE Above," an awareness program and HIV campaign to end stigma around HIV, educate and empower women and girls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 4 individuals living with HIV in the United States are women. African American and Hispanic women…
16 June 2017
Sexual and reproductive health are often not included in national school curricula. In some African countries with HIV awareness or life skills programs, teachers are frequently unwilling to teach these subjects due to constraints on teaching time and resources or because of the sexual and reproductive health content.
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