An exploration of the level of HIV risky behaviours and the sources of information on HIV for the youth in Johannesburg : is loveLife one of their sources of information?

The aim of this research was to investigate the HIV knowledge and risk behaviours of students as well as to deteremine whether the youth are aware of and utilising loveLife services. This was demonstrated with the HIV knowledge and risky behaviours of respondents using loveLife as their source of HIV information. Data was gathered by administering open-ended and close-ended questionnaires to 152 South African students aged 18—25 years old studying at Johannesburg, Braamfontein tertiary institutions. These questionnaires were structured to include the following information: the demography , condom attitude scale, the current and previous sexual behaviours, socio-sexual orientation index (SOI), self-efficacy for protective sexual behaviours scale, HIV and AIDS knowledge and understanding questionnaire,as well as the loveLife exposure, participation and response questionnaire. The data analysis techniques included statistical techniques of frequency counts, cross tabulations, Chi Square tests of associations, Point Biserial correlations, two independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, which were applied to all quantitative data; whereas thematic content analysis was applied to the open-ended questionnaire (qualitative data). Results revealed that young people are aware of loveLife services but are not utilising them. Respondents generally had good but biased HIV knowledge and increased HIV sexual risk behaviours. However, insignificant associations were found between awareness and utilisation of loveLife services and HIV knowledge and understanding, and sexual risk behaviours. The implications of the current study and recommendations for future studies are discussed

Alcohol Availability, Marketing, and Sexual Health Risk Amongst Urban and Rural Youth in South Africa.

South Africa has high rates of HIV prevalence and incidence and very high binge drinking rates amongst youth. GIS mapping of alcohol outlets and participatory research methods were used to explore and understand youth's perception of alcohol availability and marketing, and their associated risks for HIV and sexual violence. Twenty seven youth 18-24 years from an urban and rural area participated in the study. There was high density of alcohol outlets at both sites with 97% within 500 m radius to a school; 76% of outlets had alcohol advertising signage on the exterior. Youth reported that alcohol is easily accessible to them. Alcohol advertising and marketing are appealing and entice them to consume alcohol, including binge drinking. Young women reported exposure to unsafe and transactional sex, and sexual violence at alcohol outlets. Effective policies are needed to regulate alcohol availability and marketing to youth

Health and wellbeing needs and priorities in mining host communities in South Africa: a mixed-methods approach for identifying key SDG3 targets.

BACKGROUND: The global mining industry has an opportunity to mobilize resources to advance progress against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, the Anglo-American Group outlined aspirations for mining host communities to meet the SDG3 health targets. To progress from aspiration to action we designed and implemented a mixed-methods approach to attain a deeper understanding of the health and wellbeing priorities within the local context of host communities of fifteen mines in South Africa. METHODS: To identify local needs and priorities relating to SDG3 targets in host communities, stakeholder workshops and key informant interviews were conducted between June and August 2019. A baseline assessment of health data, related to each of the SDG3 targets and indicators and to each host community location, was also conducted. Findings emerging from the qualitative and quantitative baseline assessments were compared to identify the extent to which health issues aligned and health and wellbeing priority areas for action. RESULTS: A total of 407 people participated in the workshops, and 85 key informants were interviewed. Quantitative data were available at sub-national level for seven of the nine SDG3 targets and eleven of the 21 indicators. Key priority areas for action identified through alignment of the qualitative and quantitative data were maternal mortality (SDG3.1), HIV (SDG3.3.1), tuberculosis (SDG3.3.2), substance abuse (SDG3.5), and road traffic accidents (SDG3.6) We found consistency in the individual, interpersonal, community, societal, and structural factors underlying these priority areas. At a structural level, poor access to quality healthcare was raised at every workshop as a key factor underlying the achievement of all SDG3 targets. Of the five priority areas identified, HIV, TB and substance abuse were found to overlap in the study communities in terms of risk, burden, and underlying factors. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a mixed method approach for identifying local health needs and prioritised SDG3 targets in mining host communities. Consistency in reporting suggests the need for effective, efficient and feasible interventions to address five priority areas. Given the prominent economic role of the mining sector in South Africa, it can play a critical role in implementing programmatic activities that further progress towards achieving the SDG3 targets

Preventing HIV Among Young People in Southern and Eastern Africa

In this chapter we will present evidence from a systematic literature review of interventions designed to reduce the risk of HIV for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. We will highlight interventions that have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing HIV and the structural drivers related to HIV. We will also critique interventions that have not demonstrated effectiveness. Within this context we will discuss both the benefits and challenges of designing and evaluating complex interventions, which are often designed to intervene on ‘upstream’ factors and impact on multiple outcomes. Based on this review, we will highlight gaps in the evidence and describe ongoing trials that are designed to fill some of these gaps. Finally, we make recommendations for policy-makers and implementers about the best ways to intervene to reduce the risk of HIV infection for adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa