Gender, Socioeconomic Status, and Youth HIV Risk
Council researchers explored the effects of gender, poverty, orphanhood, and social isolation on adolescent HIV and pregnancy risk and gender-based violence in South Africa.
South Africa has been disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Prevalence rates are higher for women than for men, with the gender disparity being most striking among young people. Three female youths live with HIV for every one male youth (with prevalence rates of 15.5 vs. 4.8 percent, respectively). Young people residing in slum areas have an HIV prevalence rate nearly double the national youth rate (17.4 vs. 10.2 percent). These figures imply that over one-quarter of young women aged 15–24 years residing in slum areas may be living with HIV. The epidemic is clearly becoming one of young women who are socially and economically marginalized.
Evidence that elucidates the relationship between socioeconomic vulnerability and sexual risks among young people is emerging from a panel survey in KwaZulu-Natal entitled “Transitions to Adulthood in the Context of AIDS in South Africa” and from participatory social mapping exercises at the community level.
Findings indicate that poverty, orphanhood, and social isolation are associated with higher HIV and pregnancy risk behaviors. Relative poverty increases the likelihood of early sexual debut and early parenthood and decreases the chances of having discussed condom use with the most recent sexual partner. Among females only, poverty increases the risk of having had nonconsensual sex, having traded sex for goods or favors, and having had multiple sexual partners in the year before the survey. Young people with deceased fathers debut sexually earlier; female paternal orphans have older sex partners; and male paternal orphans have lower odds of practicing secondary abstinence. Social isolation is correlated with earlier sexual debut and, among girls, is associated with a higher risk of nonconsensual sex. Gender-specific social maps with adolescents reveal that girls have access to fewer public spaces in the community due to safety concerns; results from these maps are being presented by adolescents to local development committees, the police, and school boards. These decisionmakers are proving receptive and have pledged to incorporate the findings into local development action plans.
The research results have also inspired the development of an innovative pilot program designed to provide context-specific asset-building and HIV-protection strategies to vulnerable young people residing in poor HIV-affected communities. The program aims to: (1) foster the development of social networks within and beyond the local community; (2) equip youth with skills to better manage personal and family resources and access existing livelihood/training opportunities and financial services; and (3) improve youth knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.
Siyakha Nentsha: Building economic, health, and social capabilities among highly vulnerable adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Roca,Eva
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 4)
Publication date: 2011
Gendered socioeconomic conditions and HIV risk behaviours among young people in South Africa (abstract)
Hallman,Kelly
African Journal of AIDS Research 4(1): 37-50
Publication date: 2005
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Behrman,Jere R.; Stromquist,Nelly P.; Cohen,Barney
from The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries: Selected Studies, pp. 200-269
Publication date: 2005
Socioeconomic disadvantage and unsafe sexual behaviors among young women and men in South Africa (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 190)
Publication date: 2004
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries (PDF)
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 183)
Publication date: 2003
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries [Arabic] (PDF)
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 183)
Publication date: 2003
Project Stats
Location: South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
Program(s):
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Topic(s):
Adolescence/transitions to adulthood
People living with HIV
Social isolation/support
Duration: 1/2004 - 12/2007
Population Council researchers:
Judith Bruce
Kelly Hallman
Non-Council collaborators:
Crime Reduction in Schools Project
Empowerment for Success (EFS) Training
Nick Swan (Isithunzi Consultancy)
Pinetown Highway Child and Family Welfare Society
UNICEF, South Africa
Donors:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Empower (The Emerging Markets Foundation)
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
UK Department for International Development
UNICEF, South Africa
US Agency for International Development
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