Women Face More Than Just the Virus
HIV is a significant threat to South Africa’s public health, particularly among women. UNAIDS show a worrying image: over 4.9 million women aged 15 and older are living with HIV.
Research by NACOSA in KwaZulu-Natal illustrates the rationale for simultaneously screening for HIV and GBV in communities plagued by violence. Provincial Programmes Specialist, Sudhindra Naidoo with Provincial Programmes Manager, Nadeem Sheriff conducted a study in Wentworth, a community south of Durban notorious for gang violence and drugs. Working with community organisation the Wentworth AIDS Action Group, the study examined an approach whereby the screening for HIV and GBV was done jointly.
A key finding was that almost half (45.7%) of the people screened had a positive history of past or present GBV and required support.
The study concluded that victims of GBV should be recognised as a key population for HIV testing in South Africa. The study also highlights that the positivity yield (6.1%) when testing this particular cohort was much higher than that of the general population. An additional benefit of the approach was that care workers demonstrated enhanced confidence when addressing GBV issues in the Wentworth community.
HIV is a significant threat to South Africa’s public health, particularly among women. UNAIDS show a worrying image: over 4.9 million women aged 15 and older are living with HIV.
NACOSA (Networking HIV and AIDS Community of Southern Africa) is proud to announce the launch of the Ribbon Run, a running event that will take place on World AIDS Day
While medical science has made significant progress on HIV, AIDS, TB and other sexual and reproductive health challenges, it is communities that can close gaps in prevention and treatment and
In communities across South Africa, NACOSA is working to engage adolescent boys and young men in vital conversations about health, mental well-being, and social issues. Through these engagements, NACOSA tackles
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