A plea of those who are affected most by HIV: The utterances by women who inject Nyaope residing in City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng

Abstract

Background: Nyaope injecting practice has brought the field of HIV prevention and substance abuse together. It has called for an integrative approach. Women who use drugs face multiple individual, social, and structural factors that fuel their vulnerability to HIV and other blood-borne infections. The effects of drug use are more severe on women than on their male counterpart. In order to address HIV epidemic among women who inject nyaope it is imperative that they form part of solution finding.Aim: Study aimed at exploring the strategies to curb HIV incidence amongst women who inject nyaope residing in City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng.Setting: The research was conducted within COSUP. COSUP was considered more appropriate as it is a harm reduction based organisation.Methods: The study utilized qualitative research approach to explore the strategies to curb HIV incidence amongst women who inject nyaope residing in City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng. In-depth interview was conducted with 24 women with history of injecting nyaope aged between 19 to 35 years. The data was analyzed using thematic data analyzing method.Results: Health intervention, Economic intervention and Educational intervention was stressed as key strategies to curb HIV among women who inject nyaope. Needle exchange programme, Condom distribution, PrEP, HIV Testing and Counselling, Employment opportunities, Support groups and awareness campaigns if implemented can yield positive outcome in curbing HIV among women who inject drugs.Conclusion: Mechanism to curb HIV among women who inject nyaope exist and when implemented, they have potential to address high HIV incidence among women who inject nyaope.