Social protection and HIV risk factors among youth in Southern Africa: an analysis of cross-sectional Population-based HIV Impact Assessment surveys

Boladé Hamed Banougnin, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Waly Sene, UNFPA-WCARO

This study investigates the relationship between social protection and HIV risk factors among youth (15-24 years) in Southern Africa using data from nationally representative cross-sectional Population-based HIV Impact Assessment surveys. The analysis included 31,317 youth from six countries. Findings reveal that various forms of social protection, including food support, educational support, and social transfers, are associated with reduced odds of condomless sex, multiple sexual partnerships, and high-risk sex. The protective effects of social protection were generally stronger for females than males. The study concludes that expanding social protection coverage, particularly for adolescent girls and young women, could be a valuable component of HIV prevention strategies in Southern Africa.

Keywords: Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Econometrics , Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

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