Links between SRH and HIV/AIDS

A majority of HIV infections are sexually transmitted or associated with pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Likewise the presence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increases the risk of HIV transmission by at least three to four times. Given this, many of the means used to address SRH are also able to respond to HIV prevention, treatment and care. These include information on SRH, behaviour change communication to support safer sexual behaviours, provision of condoms for dual protection against STIs/HIV and AIDS and unintended pregnancies, safer delivery practices to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and diagnosis and treatment of STIs. Additionally, HIV and AIDS and poor SRH are both driven by common root causes, including gender inequality, poverty and social marginalisation of the most vulnerable populations. All of these benefit from being approached multisectorally.