Case studies: Young people across sub-Saharan Africa and the use of  ICTs for HIV and sexual and reproductive health

Background: In Nigeria, there were 3.5 million people living HIV/AIDS as of 2015 (UNAIDS, 2015). While the prevalence rate at 3.1% is lower than countries in southern Africa such as Zambia (13%), the large Nigerian population means that these figures actually represent the second biggest HIV epidemic in the world. Data from 2014 showed that prevalence among young women aged 15-24 (2.9 per cent is three times higher than among men of the same age (1.1 ...
Read More

Background: As of 2013, Ethiopia had an HIV prevalence rate of around 1.3% with around 760,000 million people living with HIV in the country (UNICEF, 2013). The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (FHAPCO) in Ethiopia claimed that adult HIV prevalence level had fallen from 2.1% in 2011 to 1.3% in 2013 due to a strong push on procurement of HIV-related supplies, procedures of quality assurances and policy on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support (HAPCO, 2013) ...
Read More

Background: Kenya currently has an HIV prevalence rate of 6%, equating to around 1.6 million people living with HIV in the country. Kenya is also one of the six HIV 'high burden' countries in Africa. (National Aids Control Council 2014). In Kenya, young women have an HIV prevalence of 6.1% - four times higher than their male counterparts. Studies showed knowledge around HIV/AIDS prevention was high amongst youth, however many young people continued to engage in ...
Read More

Background: Kenya currently has an HIV prevalence rate of 6%, equating to around 1.6 million people living with HIV in the country. Kenya is also one of the six HIV 'high burden' countries in Africa. (National Aids Control Council 2014). In Kenya, young women have an HIV prevalence of 6.1% - four times higher than their male counterparts. Studies showed knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention was high amongst youth, however many young people continued to engage in ...
Read More

Background: Kenya currently has an HIV prevalence rate of 6%, equating to around 1.6 million people living with HIV in the country. Kenya is also one of the six HIV 'high burden' countries in Africa. (National Aids Control Council 2014) During the project lifespan, youth aged between 15-24 years were considered “most-at-risk” of contracting the HIV infection by the national HIV/AIDS strategy. In Kenya, young women had an HIV prevalence of 6.1% which was four times ...
Read More

Background: In Nigeria, there were 3.5 million people living HIV/AIDS as of 2015 (UNAIDS, 2015). While the prevalence rate at 3.1% is lower than countries in southern Africa such as Zambia (13%), the large Nigerian population means that these figures actually represent the second biggest HIV epidemic in the world. Data from 2014 showed that prevalence among young women age 15-24 (2.9 per cent) is three times higher than among men of the same age (1.1 ...
Read More

Background: Tanzania currently has an HIV prevalence rate of 4.7% with around 1.4 million Tanzanian currently living with HIV (UNAIDS, 2015). The HIV epidemic shows strong regional variation. Regions with the highest HIV prevalence are Mbeya at 14%, Iringa at 13% and Dar es Salaam at 11%. Founded in 1999, Femina Hip is a multimedia platform and a civil society initiative working with youth, communities and strategic partners across Tanzania. The aim is to promote healthy ...
Read More

Background: YoungAfricaLive, launched on World Aids Day 2009, was a mobile community platform targeting young people through peer-to-peer interactivity and engagement around the issues of sex and relationships in the context of their social, cultural and economic situation. The platform reached over 1.85 million unique users through its services aimed at promoting healthy sexual behaviour. The project was first conceived and funded by Praekelt Foundation, and in partnership with Vodacom South Africa, the platform was ...
Read More

Background: In Mozambique, 11.5 per cent of the population aged 15 to 49 were found to be living with HIV/AIDS according to the 2009 National Survey on Prevalence, Behavioral Risks and Information about HIV and AIDS in Mozambique (INSIDA) (DHS, 2009). Overall, the survey results reported that 13.1% of women and 9.2% of men age 15-49 were HIV-positive in Mozambique, showing that women were more affected than men in both urban and rural areas. These ...
Read More

Background: In Nigeria, there were 3.5 million people living HIV/AIDS as of 2015 (UNAIDS, 2015). While the prevalence rate at 3.1% is lower than countries in southern Africa such as Zambia (13%), the large Nigerian population means that these figures actually represent the second biggest HIV epidemic in the world. Data from 2014 showed that prevalence among young women age 15-24 (2.9 per cent) is three times higher than among men of the same age ...
Read More

Background: As of 2013, Ethiopia had an HIV prevalence rate of around 1.3% with around 760,000 million people living with HIV in the country (UNICEF, 2013). The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (FHAPCO) in Ethiopia claimed that adult HIV prevalence level had fallen from 2.1% in 2011 to 1.3% in 2013 due to a strong push on procurement of HIV-related supplies, procedures of quality assurances and policy on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support (HAPCO, ...
Read More

Background: In Zambia, the prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15-49 is 14.3% with females bearing a higher burden of the disease at 16.1% prevalence compared to men at 12.3% prevalence (UNICEF, 2017). According to UNICEF, every hour, about three young people across Zambia aged 15-24 years old get infected with HIV. Young people tend to be more vulnerable in the face of limited information and access to preventative services such as condoms, HIV testing ...
Read More

Background: In Ghana, an estimated 270,000 people were infected with HIV in 2015 (UNAIDS, 2015) with a prevalence rate for HIV at around 1.6%. HIV prevalence has declined in recent years, highlighting the success of HIV prevention programmes in the country. In 2012, the Association of Church-based NGOs in Northern Ghana (ACDEP) started implementing ICT-based programmes to improve healthcare in rural areas of northern Ghana. One of the first programmes was set up to address ...
Read More