Currently, South Africa has about 126 805 Aids-related deaths annually. The government and private healthcare sector are estimated to be investing more than $1.34 billion (about R19 billion) annually to run its HIV programs. However, we have made big strides in getting people to test for HIV using different government and Non- governmental Organisation- funded initiatives.
According to Statistics South Africa, about 87% are aware of their status. Also, by being one of the countries at the forefront of providing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), SA has seen a reduction in the rates of new infections. The success of this Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) programme is also evident in the increase in national life expectancy, women rising from 56.6 years in 2007 to 67.7 in 2019 and men from 52.3 to 61.5
GROUPS IDENTIFIED AS HIGH-RISK
Sex workers – Certain factors increase HIV risk for sex workers including poverty, the number of dependents they have and lack of alternative career opportunities. Injecting drug use is also common among them, exacerbating their vulnerability to HIV infection.
Men who have sex with men – Despite the Constitution that protects the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and Asexual communities, many men face high levels of social stigma and homophobic violence. This is a result of traditional and conservative attitudes within the general population. Also, there is a lack of knowledge around the issues that they’re faced with, making it difficult for them to disclose their sexuality to healthcare workers in order to get the care they need.
Transgender women – Stigma is another major barrier to transgender people receiving care.
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Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av Bona.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Damage At Work: Who Pays?
What happens when you damage company property or property that belongs to your employer? Are you liable for the costs?
Safety Tips When Driving With Kids
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The Impact Of The Coronavirus
When COVID-19 hit South Africa, it came as no surprise that the virus would impact vulnerable communities such as townships and rural areas the hardest. The frequently asked questions since then have been whether the government has given enough information and resources to the people in disadvantaged areas or not. Everson Luhanga investigates further.
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Trying to conceive with no success, and undergoing fertility treatment can take its toll on your relationship. This is the reality for many couples, and yet it remains a taboo subject.
THE TRUTH ABOUT - feminine hygiene products
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Film and TV star Fulu Mugovhani (29), currently graces our screens as Noli on the M-Net series, Still Breathing. The former Scandal! actress talks about getting into showbiz and lessons learnt on and off the stage.
Life After losing a child
A parent’s worst fear is the death of a child. And, when that fear becomes a reality, grief becomes unbearable and acceptance seems impossible. Four readers share intimate details of their journeys.
