Sexual, reproductive health and HIV prevalence among recently pregnant women aged 15-49 years in South Africa: a focus on adolescent girls and young women, and HIV-related risk behaviours

Abstract

Adolescent girls worldwide begin to navigate their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) at the onset of puberty. In South Africa, increasing pregnancies and births have recently been reported among girls aged 10-19 years. Thus, childbearing for these young girls begins at an early age. Evidence suggests a decline in HIV incidence among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) however, the risk of acquiring HIV through sex with a male partner living with HIV increases during pregnancy.