Differences in HIV risk factors between South African adolescents and adult women and their association with sexually transmitted infections
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 86% of HIV infections in adolescents aged 15–19 years occur among girls. Their heightened susceptibility is likely influenced by converging sociobehavioural and biological factors, although the relative contributions remain unclear. To address this, we compared known and hypothesized risk factors for HIV between cisgender adolescent girls and adult women in South Africa and evaluated the relationships between these factors and sexually transmitted infection (STI) status. This cross-sectional observational study included adolescent (n=305; 14–19 years) and adult females (n=114; 25–35 years) in two South African provinces (Western Cape (WC), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)). Demographic and sociobehavioural data were collected by questionnaire. Colposcopy was conducted to identify cervicovaginal abnormalities, and tests for bacterial vaginosis (BV), Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis were performed.
DOI: 10.14749/30767987
Author: Human Sciences Research Council
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Human Sciences Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W7108330988
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