Empowering women against aids (EWA): an analysis of HIV and IPV among young women in South Africa and a program option

Farias, Danielle (2016) Empowering women against aids (EWA): an analysis of HIV and IPV among young women in South Africa and a program option. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

Background: While the overall Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic in South Africa has slowed due to national and international efforts, the population of young women ages to 15-24 still faces high HIV incidence and prevalence rates. Young women account for 80% of new infections in young people making this issue a national crisis that needs to be addressed. HIV treatment and sexual education have been made widely available and are political and public health priorities for the country. Most young women are infected due to heterosexual contact and controlling HIV infection in young women remains a challenge due to intimate partner violence (IPV) a specific type of gender-based violence and a byproduct of gender inequality and cultural gender norms. In order to address the epidemic levels of HIV in young women, effective programs must be developed that do not view IPV and HIV in isolation, but instead focus on addressing both public health issues concurrently. Objective: This essay aims to provide an analysis of the IPV and HIV connection in young women ages 15-24 living in South African and propose a program to address both of these issues through an intervention that combines a support group and microfinance lending models to increase social support for survivors of IPV, address HIV prevention and care and increase financial independence. Conclusion: While there is an abundance of literature on the intersection of IPV and HIV in South Africa, no previous interventions have demonstrated success in both reducing women’s experience of IPV and incidence of HIV, nor has a support group model been tested. This essay summarizes important themes from the IPV/HIV literature and outlines a program to support young women and reduce risk for HIV and IPV. Public Health Relevance: The rapid rate of HIV incidence in young women remains a major barrier to controlling the national HIV epidemic in South Africa. Addressing young women’s HIV risk however cannot be done unless the country is able to increase young women’s ability for safe sexual relationships and gender equity domestically, financially and socially. Ultimately, addressing gender violence and intimate partner violence in South Africa will reduce HIV and increase the health and quality of life for young women and the families and communities that they support.

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Details

Item Type:	Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Farias, Danielle daf77@pitt.edu DAF77
Contributors:	Contribution Contributors Name Email Pitt Username ORCID Committee Chair Silvestre, Anthony J. tonys@pitt.edu UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Committee Member Burke, Jessica G. jgburke@pitt.edu UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Date:	5 April 2016
Date Type:	Publication
Access Restriction:	No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	School of Public Health > Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
Degree:	MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type:	Master Essay
Refereed:	Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:	HIV, intimate, partner, violence, program, proposal
Date Deposited:	07 Sep 2016 17:53
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2020 19:11
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27507

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