Track DSocial Science, Human Rights

and Political Science

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Introduction

• 13 sessions• 56 presentations of the scheduled 79

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Track D MembersMember Country of origin1. Isabelle Bodea Benin2. Alain Azondekon Benin3. Olympia Laswai Tanzania4. Notion Gombe Zimbabwe (Lead rapporteur)5. Howard Nyika Zimbabwe6. Tsitsi Juru Zimbabwe7. Donewell Bangure Zimbabwe8. Ester Muchenje Zimbabwe9. Faith Mutsigiri Zimbabwe

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Track D MembersMember Country of origin

10. Obert Manyeza Zimbabwe

11. More Mungati Zimbabwe

12. Tabeth Mhonde Zimbabwe

13. Roy Chiruvu Zimbabwe

14. Takura Matare Zimbabwe

15. Munyaradzi Dobbie Zimbabwe

16. Zorodzai Jakopo Zimbabwe

17. Emelia Chikoko Zimbabwe

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Session highlights

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D1: Increasing access to treatment and adherence• Follow up of patients crucial in improving adherence • Addressing stigma, confidentiality and food access are

crucial for adherence• Women with a history of miscarriage and stillbirth were more

likely to be HIV positive • National Health Insurance Scheme (2005) in Ghana resulted

in improved access to treatment of PLHIV• Retention in care improved and out of pocket expenditure for

individuals declined

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D2: Increasing access to integrated SRHR & HIV

• Concern raised about high proportion of women not using

contraceptive

• SRH counseling did not have an effect on having unintended

pregnancies or contracting STIs

• Men accepted the PMTCT program and perceived their

participation as important for the success of the program• Men in general fear being tested

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D3: Programming for access to justice and care

• Highlighted human rights abuse against sex workers in

Zimbabwe as well as unreported cases of abuse• Rapid response in providing legal services to sex workers

needed • There is unjustified incarceration of SW

• Criminalization of sex work contributing to violation of human rights

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D4: Stigma, discrimination and disclosure

• Culturally sensitive interventions that help increase parental HIV

disclosure are needed.

• The project result show significant improvement among

participants in a number of areas including self-stigma,

depression and fears around disclosure.

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D5: Sex workers access to services and human rights• Highlighted hepatitis B infection is an indication of unprotected

sex which also means a risk for HIV and other STIs among these MSWs.

• Despite sensitization human rights violations are still happening with sex workers being denied access to health care.

• Health workers need to uphold the Hippocratic Oath in their conduct and avoid disclosure without the consent of those concerned.

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D6: Community engagement

• Little attention has been accorded for socio-cultural and governance dimensions against effects of HIV/AIDS.

• Psycho-social support, culture and local governance are emerging determinants of HIV/AIDS reduction.

• Social capital is key for human behavior change but can be limited by poor governance.

• HIV is not a barrier to economic empowerment to women. • Holistic approach to empowerment is key to addressing

HIV/AIDS in communities.

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D7: Reaching adolescents/young people with HIV messages

• People prefer stand-alone HIV testing to health facility. (poor

confidentiality)

• Early exposure to sexual violence was associated with

sexual risk-taking behavior in adulthood among both males

and females. • Sixty percent of unmarried women used condoms

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D8: HIV and disability• Strong social exclusion of deaf people was evident yet they are highly

affected with HIV/AIDS.• HTC uptake among PWDs was 10% and 85% did not collect their

results.• Access to health services remains a challenge to PWDs• PWDs have increased risk of contracting HIV • Only 2% of the PWDs had been reached with peer education yet 75%

of the respondents were sexually active• Violence against peoples living with disabilities has been shown to

increase the risk of transmission of HIV two fold.

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D10: Adolescents living with HIV

• Lack of privacy and side effects were some of the reasons for non-adherence.

• Adolescents friendly centers help to improve treatment outcomes and offer support to the teens.

• Stigma and discrimination is the leading barrier to accessing treatment among young people living with HIV, followed by side effects and lack of food.

• Community Adolescent Treatment Supporter (CATS) services improved adherence from 44% to 71.8% in Gokwe South District, Zimbabwe

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D11: HIV and law

• All international conventions now at par with municipal law in Kenya.

• Discrimination on the basis of HIV status is illegal in Kenya and can be

challenged in court.

• Need to partner with relevant stakeholders in particular

parliamentarians for sustainable HIV programming.

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D12: Sexual and Gender Based Violence

• Sexual and Gender Based violence has been reported in schools.

• Female teachers are among perpetrators of violence

• Persistent and sustained advocacy works for reducing GBV

and IPV

• Greater internal and external stigma were independent risk

factors for verbal and sexual violence

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D13: Information technology and communication (ICT)

• SAFAIDS piloted the use of mHealth to further improve linkages between

health facilities and communities for improved enrollment and retention in

care of HIV clients

• mHealth contribute to improved linkage to care between health facilities

and communities

• Number of clients with appointments followed up increased by 400%

per month and lost to follow up defaulters decreased by 55%.

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Thank you