This series of report cards aims to increase and improve the programmatic, policy and funding actions taken on HIV prevention for girls and young women.
The report cards summarise the current situation of HIV prevention strategies and services and contain an analysis of five key components that influence HIV prevention, namely:
1. Legal provision
2. Policy provision
3. Availability of services
4. Accessibility of services
5. Participation and rights
The cards build on global policy commitments, particularly those outlined in the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS from the 2 June 2006 High-Level Meeting, to follow up on the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS).
Swaziland
Swaziland has the highest rate of adult (15-49) HIV infection in the world, with a recent figure at 25.8%.23. Heterosexual sex is the main transmission
route of HIV and the status of women has only recently been amended from that of minors in the national constitution (2006).
As a result of this, young women and girls are highly vulnerable to HIV infection.
The preliminary results of the Swaziland Demographic Health Survey undertaken in 2006/7 show that many more young women than young men are living with HIV.
Additional factors which contribute to the challenges facing young women and girls are the legalisation of early marriage in the constitution as ‘marriage through customary rites’, strong traditionalist leadership which
maintains that polygamy does not contribute to the transmission of HIV and widespread intergenerational sex.