In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa the prevalence of HIV is disproportionately high for young women (ages 15-24). A 15-session classroom based program was developed by the Department of Education to teach adolescent boys and girls (ages 14-17) about HIV and pregnancy prevention using gender-transformative curriculum. This evaluation looks at changes in condom use, partner communication, gender beliefs, and efficacy to refuse unsafe sex pre and…
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This brief highlights why it is important for girls to stay in school, and how poor educational status is highly correlated with HIV infection. A range of interventions to address this issue are given, as well as key questions to consider when advocating for girls’ rights to education.
This article can be accessed on-line here.
The purpose of this report is to guide policymakers, planners, implementers of HIV prevention programs to understand the risk of HIV for adolescent girls and young women, learn how to create and deliver effective responses, and address policy and structural changes in order to create ways to break unequal gender norms and make positive changes towards reducing the burden of HIV for adolescent girls and women.
This extensive toolkit developed by EngenderHealth after conducting a needs assessment of program staff working in local and district levels in South Africa. The assessment revealed that levels of training varied among staff members and training opportunities were rare. There were large gaps in the knowledge around gender and youth in relation to HIV, which is why this training module was developed. There are 8 modules which provide training…
As the recognition towards the disproportionate female-to-male infection ratio is being recognized, more programs around gender and HIV are being developed. However, this paper argues that many of these programs do not have specific target audiences, content, or evaluation plans. This paper reviews 63 well-known HIV and Gender programs and evaluates their attribution to gender inequities, selected target populations, measurement of results,…
This formative research report aimed to generate ideas for programs and services to support adolescent girls living with HIV in Zambia in transition to adulthood. The findings and recommendations are reported by ecological levels: individual, interpersonal, and organizational.
The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) developed a participatory research action project in Tanzania to understand and address HIV-risk among adolescent girls and young women. The program centered around a life-skills manual, teaching girls about their rights, roles in society, and how to address their needs within their communities. This report goes into detail about the rigorous research methods used for monitoring and…
This booklet responds to relevant, often sensitive questions asked by young women living with HIV. It provides factual and helpful information on how to maintain healthy relationships, practice safe sex, prepare for pregnancy, and seek support networks.
This review analyzed 150 studies of HIV programming for adolescent girls from 2001-2013. The objective was to use these evaluations to make suggestions around creating enabling environments for girls, increasing information and service needs, and providing social support. Areas with little evidence-based programming are also discussed, as well as how to move forward in developing strong frameworks to address the needs of adolescent girls…
Drought exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern could lead to a spike in new HIV infections in southern Africa as women and girls turn to sex to survive and patients miss treatments, the United Nations children’s' agency UNICEF said. Read full article here.
A recently released study in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome has shown that “HIV testing and treatment should be prioritized to target young people and women, while novel strategies are necessary to reach men.” Read full article here.
An increasing prevalence of male circumcision among Ugandan communities, has been linked to a fall in the number of HIV infections. The practice, in conjunction with more HIV-positive women being given antiretroviral drugs, has brought about 'significant declines' in the disease, new research suggests. The two interventions, observed in rural Ugandan communities, were successful in tightly controlled clinical trials, and have 'real-world…
A new report by UNAIDS reveals concerning trends in new HIV infections among adults. The Prevention gap report shows that while significant progress is being made in stopping new HIV infections among children (new HIV infections have declined by more than 70% among children since 2001 and are continuing to decline), the decline in new HIV infections among adults has stalled. The report shows that HIV prevention urgently needs to be scaled…
Text messages have revolutionized the way we interact with each other — and the way we receive and practice health care may be next. The latest research proves they can also increase the rate of HIV testing among the groups who are more vulnerable to infection; in this particular case, young women living in rural Africa. Read full article…
A study in Kenya finds that the provision of multiple HIV self-tests to women at high risk of HIV infection was successful in promoting HIV testing among their sexual partners and in facilitating safer sexual decisions. This novel strategy warrants further consideration as countries develop self-testing policies and programmes. Read full article …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says HIV infection rates are high among transgender women in the United States, and particularly high among black transgender women, compared to other groups.
Read full article here