Fact Sheets on HIV / AIDS – 2004

The Links Between Sex, Gender and HIV/AIDS
It is a biological fact that women, and especially younger women, are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS than men. These biological factors are exacerbated by the gender roles and expectations that society places on women and men À“ and the economic, social and political factors that create an “enabling environmentÀ for the pandemic.

The Portrayal of HIV-Positive Women in the South African Media
Excerpt from research by Mpine Qakisa

What the Media Can Do
The pointers in this fact sheet, although targeted at journalists, are guidelines for anyone working in the area of information, education and communications on HIV/AIDS.

The Language of HIV/AIDS
Indicates language to avoid, the reasons for avoiding it, and identifies appropriate alternatives

Sensitive Reporting on HIV/AIDS
Arranging for journalists to cover a story as part of the training is the best way to sensitise them to the difficulties and ethics of good reporting on HIV/AIDS and gender. It was as part of the fieldwork during the Gender Links (GL) gender violence workshop in Maputo that Ruth Ansah Ayisi personally learnt important lessons about this sensitive area of work.

Useful Guidelines for Reporting on Gender and HIV/AIDS
Covers confidentiality, reducing stigma, reporting on treatment and cures, misconceptions, sources of information, and minorities and vulnerable groups

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and HIV/AIDS
Identifies CEDAW’s statements on HIV/AIDS in relation to access to healthcare, inequality within the family, discrimination against women and access to information, and gender-based violence

Violence and HIV/AIDS risk throughout a woman’s life
Outlines the particular risks women face in childhood, adolescence, the adult child-bearing years, and older age.

PEP and rape survivors
Some frequently asked questions and answers about Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for rape survivors

Culture and human rights
For women, and many other marginalised and vulnerable groups within any society, the challenge of this century continues to be how to maintain the integrity and distinctiveness of one’s culture while at the same time challenging and changing those aspects of culture that treat women or any vulnerable group as less than human – or violating their human rights.

The links between poverty and HIV/AIDS
Covers such links as the fact that the poor often do not have access to information, Poverty leads to behaviours that expose people to the risk of HIV infection, Living conditions of the poor weaken their resistance to illness, and Treatment and medical care are often beyond the economic reach of the poor.

Unpacking the “householdÀ
Words and concepts often disguise the structures of inequality, especially those inherent in the “feminisation of povertyÀ. This fact sheet explores the term “household” and how the impact of HIV/AIDS can change the concept.

Men need to be involved in PMTCT
Lack of male involvement in government’s prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme (PMTCT) is undermining its success, according to HSRC researcher Dr Christine Varga.

Testimonies by men
Testimonies from three men about disclosing their positive HIV status

Men who have sex with men
Men who have sex with other men are not a homogeneous group. According to the London-based PANOS Institute, men who have sex with men fall into overlapping categories.

A profile of HIV/AIDS
Provides some basic information about what HIV/AIDS is and its impact

Gender, prevention, treatment and care
Explores some of the gender dimensions of the HIV/AIDS pandemic

Download : The links between sec, gender and HIV/AIDS
Download : Portrayal of HIV-Positive women in the South African media
Download : What the media can do
Download : The language of HIV / AIDS
Download : Sensitive reporting on HIV / AIDS
Download : Useful guidelines for reporting on gender and HIV / AIDS
Download : Convention on the elimination of discrimination against women and HIV / AIDS
Download : Violence and HIV / AIDS risk throughout a woman's life
Download : PEP and rape survivors
Download : Culture and human rights
Download : The link between poverty and AIDS
Download : Unpacking the "household"
Download : Men need to be involved in PMTCT
Download : Testimonies by men
Download : Men who have sex with men
Download : A profile of HIV / AIDS
Download : Gender, prevention, treatment and care