Sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately represents the largest incidence of both HIV/AIDS and internal conflicts. The impact of conflict on HIV incidence is largely unknown. Current epidemiological evidence paradoxically suggests that in most populations affected by conflict, HIV prevalence is lower than surrounding communities. Together, these dimensions of conflict create a complex and challenging situation for prevention of HIV/AIDS and delivery of care to conflict-affected populations. The authors examine the complexity of monitoring HIV/AIDS in conflict settings, and argue that increased efforts are needed to protect vulnerable populations and design health-delivery systems that are sustainable in settings of conflict.
Equity and HIV/AIDS
The impact of conflict on HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa
Mills EJ, Singh S, Nelson BD, Nachega JB: International Journal of STD and AIDS 17 (11) 713-717, 2006
The potential impact of ART on fertility in sub-Saharan Africa
Kaida A, Andia I, Maier M et al: Current HIV/AIDS Reports 3 (4) 187-194, 2006
Women with HIV infection have between 25% and 40% lower fertility than non-infected women. As antiretroviral therapy (ART) becomes increasingly accessible in sub-Saharan Africa, it is important to understand whether and how the associated clinical improvements correspond with changes in the incidence of pregnancy and fertility. Accordingly, this paper reviews the literature on the potential impact of ART on the fertility of women with HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors use Bongaarts' proximate determinants of fertility framework (adapted for conditions of a generalised HIV epidemic) to examine the underlying mechanisms through which use of ART may impact the fertility of women with HIV infection.
The role of health care in the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa: Evidence from Kenya
Deuchert E, Brody S: International Journal of STD & AIDS 17 (11) 749-752, 2006
It is commonly asserted that the sub-Saharan African HIV/AIDS epidemic is predominantly due to heterosexual transmission. However, recent re examination of the available evidence strongly suggests that unsafe health care is the more likely vector. The present report adds to the evidence for health-care transmission by showing that Kenyan women who received prophylactic tetanus toxoid injections during pregnancy are 1.89 times (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.03-3.47) more likely to be HIV-1 seropositive than women who did not receive this vaccination. In contrast, recent sexual behaviour (condom use, number of partners) was not related to HIV status. The results are consistent with health care being a very important vector for HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
What breakthrough is needed to combat HIV/AIDS?
Maoulidi S, Phambuzuka News 280
For an HIV/AIDS breakthrough to happen in Tanzania, a radical approach to tackling HIV/AIDS and its impact is needed, writes Salma Maoulidi, who asks “How can any progress be made in the HIV/AIDS battle if current strategies are superficial and isolated?"
Zambia: More than 10 girls raped every week
IRIN News, 27 November 2006
A Zambian nongovernmental organisation (NGO) revealed this week that it records eight cases of rape of young girls every week at its centre in the capital, Lusaka. The statistics were released by the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Zambia to mark the start of the global campaign, '16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence', which runs from 25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - until International Human Rights Day on 10 December.
Achieving and sustaining universal ART access in rural areas: The PHC approach to HIV services in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape
Medecins Sans Frontiers, October 2006
The chronic shortage of health care workers is recognised as a major bottleneck to scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) , and this has the biggest impact in rural areas where the human resource crisis is most acute. There is a need to develop innovative, effective delivery models, particularly for rural areas with weak health systems. This document reports how the HIV/AIDS programme in Lusikisiki, a partnership between Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) and the Department of Health of the Eastern Cape, has managed to achieve universal ART access in one of the most under-resourced and disadvantaged areas of South Africa without compromising on quality.
Essential services: HIV, health services and gender in South Africa
Motala M, Noel T: Oxfam International, 1 September 2006
Much has been achieved in just over a decade of democracy in South Africa by facilitating access of the poor to health and other services. However much more needs to be done if the constitutional rights of citizens to dignity is to become universal. Under the strain of an HIV onslaught the health systems serving the poor are being incredibly strained. Women in poor communities are having to fill the gap through self-devised homedbased care as the public health care system that most South Africans rely on is unable to cope.
Africa to get free technical ability to manufacture HIV generic medicine
Kuwait News Agency, 22 September 2006
The Swiss-based Basel giant pharmmaceutical company, Roche, said that it would supply free-of-charge three companies in Africa, with the technical ability to manufacture generic medicine for HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. In an announcement on 22 September, Roche added that Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa and Cosmos Limited and Universal Corporation Limited in Kenya will receive the necessary technical expertise. The Basel based firm said another 25 companies from 14 countries, including Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria were interested in the initiative. The agreements are the first in a series of planned technology transfers for sub-Saharan Africa and the world's Least Developed Countries, which were announced in January 2006.
After the political declaration - Where to from here? Views of an activist living with HIV/AIDS
Mthati S: The Sixteenth International AIDS Conference, August 2006
This video clip from the Sixteenth International AIDS Conference held in Toronto in August 2006 shows an AIDS activist living with HIV presenting her views on the UNGASS political declaration. The video clip is found among others presented at that conference session.
Fighting AIDS with ingenuity
Goar C: The Toronto Star, 16 August 2006
What happens when there aren't enough doctors to administer treatments? What happens when patients sell their medications to buy food? What happens when people are afraid to get tested for a disease? The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) working with South African researchers are developing techniques to manage AIDS in resource constrained settings.