2009 SAfAIDS News 2 vol 15: The Importance of Linking Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and HIV

2009 SAfAIDS News 2 vol 15: The Importance of Linking Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and HIV

The debate on linking sexual and reproductive health rights and HIV was initiated as early as 1994, at the International Conference on Population and Development, which established that the effective prevention and treatment of sexual transmitted infections, including HIV, was an integral component of reproductive health services. This article assesses the importance of creating linkages between sexual and reproductive health services and HIV and the impact this could have on service provision. Finally, this article will comment on the benefits of this linkage for women and minority groups and why these make it such an essential step in HIV prevention.