Urban women bear brunt of AIDS in KZN
The face of HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal is a woman in her thirties living in eThekwini, according to a study released this week.
Women’s Health
Read More » Urban women bear brunt of AIDS in KZN
Improving survival of HIV+ babies
HIV-positive babies will have an improved chance of survival following the implementation of government's revised anti-retroviral (ARV) policy. All children living with HIV under one year of age will receive treatment as soon as they are diagnosed.
Inadequate access to female condoms questioned
Activists are concerned that the limited access to female condoms as a means of HIV prevention compared to male condoms is a violation of human rights. Annually, the government distributes over 400 million condoms compared to three million female condoms.
Cervical cancer risk in HIV+ women Living with AIDS # 414
Preliminary results from a study conducted in Johannesburg show that women with HIV have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer than women who are HIV-negative.
Breaking the shackles of sex work
Many women become sex workers because they are unable to find work and face a life of poverty. However, some of the women wish to leave the industry and a project in Johannesburg is helping the women to do exactly that.
Saving Africa’s children Living with AIDS # 410
Africa has the largest number of children living with HIV. A campaign launched recently seeks to mobilize political will and financial resources to overcome the bottle-necks that hinder services for children who have HIV and to prevent HIV infection in children.
Contradicting maternity Living with AIDS # 409
A cry, a smile and a dance often accompany the birth of a new-born. But in the age of HIV/AIDS, a cry, sadness and worries often characterize motherhood. This is according to experiences shared by pregnant HIV-positive women in a book entitled 'Contradicting Maternity'.
Silent deaths
CAPE TOWN - More than one-million babies are stillborn during labour every year ' 98% in low- and middle-income countries - yet global policy discussions around these largely silent deaths are mostly nonexistent. On top of this another 904 000 babies die soon after birth due to birth complications, closely linked to almost half of the world's 536 000 maternal deaths.
Strengthening PMTCT
More infants could be born free from HIV in South Africa. This follows the recent introduction of the National Plan for Acceleration of the Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission programme, or PMTCT A-Plan.
High maternal & child deaths ‘not acceptable’ Living with AIDS # 404
About 60 000 children under five die in South Africa every year. Many women die from pregnancy or child-birth related complications, often exacerbated by HIV. The Health Department wants to change the pattern.
Protecting mothers, sisters & partners from HIV
Non-governmental organisations have raised concern over the lack of female condoms claiming that it undermines efforts to curb new infections.
Minister vows to address maternal and child deaths
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi declared war on maternal and child deaths at a summit held recently in Johannesburg.
Health Minister shares insights on H1N1
Following a meeting in China and one held here in South Africa in recent weeks, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, told the media about developments around the treatment of H1N1 flu.
‘The paradox of apparent progress yet worsening health outcomes’
Despite the health of women and children being a priority for the democratically elected government, South Africa is one of only 12 countries in the world where the mortality rate for our children has got worse since 1990.
Dispelling the ‘big fat myth’
Nutritional experts say it's untrue that all dietary fats are bad. This was one of the topics of discussion at a recent conference of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), in Johannesburg.