African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Are HIV positive women who have sex with women (WSW) an unrecognized and neglected HIV risk group in South Africa?

Allanise Cloete*, Nadia Sanger and Leickness C. Simbayi

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Private Bag X 9182, Cape Town, South Africa.

Accepted 10 April, 2020

Abstract

South Africa is home to the largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Of this population gender non-conforming women like women who have sex with women (WSW) remain undocumented. This study is an attempt to fill this information gap as it describes the demographic, health and sexual behaviours of 72 HIV positive WSW. The data indicate that WSW are not protected from HIV because of their same sex desires. These findings suggest the need to include WSW as a most at risk group for both HIV prevention and treatment programmes.

Key words: Women who have sex with women (WSW), lesbians, HIV positive, corrective rape, female-to-female transmission of HIV, South Africa.