South African national HIV prevention programme targeting the youth, loveLife, launched a research report, A Gauge of HIV Prevention in South Africa 2009 in Johannesburg on 2 November, 2009.

The research, which summarises published information about the state of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, identifies trends in prevalence, incidence of HIV and self-reported sexual behaviour. It provides data, differentiated where possible by age, gender and genotype.

The HIV prevention gauge also aims to identify gaps in knowledge and develop strategies to help fill these gaps.

Speaking at the launch, loveLife CEO Grace Matlhape said the organisation specifically targets the youth, as they are the future leaders of the country.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that young people transition into young adulthood as wholesome and grounded so that we reduce the prevalence of HIV in our country,” said Matlhape.

“This would be done by instilling in teenagers a strong sense of who they are. What we must not forget is that cohorts of kids are born each year in South Africa and they become teens and young adults. Most of them are born negative, so we need to keep it that way and ensure an HIV-free future for our kids.”

Author and former loveLife CEO David Harrison, who made a presentation about the state of the epidemic in South Africa, called the research document a synthesis of the information available on HIV/AIDS.

Harrison said unprotected sex was the primary driver of the epidemic, and highlighted the importance of condom use – particularly for pregnant women. 

“Being pregnant increases the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS,” said Harrison.

“It is during pregnancy that the risk is heightened, so even if [a woman] is pregnant [she] must still use condoms.”

Harrison said the research found that young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 were at a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

“We have found that when teenagers leave school and stay at home [in squatter camps or townships], they are more likely to contract the disease.

“The drop-out [rate] of young people from schools contributes to new HIV infections.

“We need to develop strategies and measures to protect those young people that are out of school because [the research] shows that once they leave school, they become careless and do not use condoms.”

Another factor contributing to the spread of HIV, said Harrison, was the situation in South Africa’s prisons.

“Young people are imprisoned for crimes,” he explained.

“They go there HIV-negative and come out HIV-positive and, because they are not aware of their status, they infect other people.

Prevention strategies should also encourage abstinence among girls, said Harrison. 

“These girls might be on contraceptives, but they don’t use condoms,” he said. “Yes, they don’t fall pregnant, but they get HIV.”