| HIV Prevention through Gender Equality Lens |
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Emphasis on changing the face of African sexual relationships draws
attention and funding away from the need for comprehensive HIV
prevention programmes that promote gender equality and support sexual
and reproductive rights and autonomy.
The article "HIV Prevention through Gender Equality Lens" was written by Chelsea Ricker and Bafana Khumalo, and originally appeared in the 4th edition of the 2009 version of Exchange Magazine.
Debate on the role of the prevalence of multiple and concurrent partnerships (MCP) as a driver of the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa has been raging lately. While
various studies have identified MCP as a significant risk factor in the spread of HIV,
there is little scientific evidence connecting high rates of concurrent partnership
with high HIV prevalence
Even if multiple concurrent partnerships turn out to represent a potentially greater risk for HIV infection during the acute stage, programmes that have as their goal the simple reduction in the number of MCP are losing sight of the real goal of HIV prevention: a reduction in the number of new HIV infections. Emphasis on changing the face of African sexual relationships draws attention and funding away from the need for comprehensive HIV prevention programmes that promote gender equality and support sexual and reproductive rights and autonomy. Click here to read the rest of the article on the Exchange website.
Click here to learn more about the Camerounian chapter of the Society for Women against AIDS in Africa (SWAAC), and IWHC partner featured in the article. Click here to learn more about IWHC's regional work in Cameroun.
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