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

Abstract

Background: Nyaope injecting practice brought the field of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) together. It is complex and requires multidisciplinary approach. Women who use drugs face individual, social, and structural factors that fuel their vulnerability to contract HIV, and other blood-borne infections. Women Who Inject Drugs (WWID) are a subpopulation that is neglected from HIV prevention and SUD treatment interventions, and are hardly the subject of surveys. In order to fully address the HIV epidemic among WWID it is imperative that they become part of the process of finding solutions.

Aim: This study explored the strategies to curb HIV incidence among Women Who Inject Nyaope (WWIN), residing in City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng Province.

Setting: The research was conducted within COSUP. COSUP was considered more appropriate as it is a harm reduction based organisation.

Methods: The study utilised the qualitative research approach. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 24 women with a history of injecting Nyaope aged between 19 to 35 years. The data was analysed using thematic data analysis.

Results: Health intervention, economic intervention and educational intervention was stressed as key strategies to curb HIV among WWIN. Needle exchange programmes, condom distribution, PrEP, HIV Testing and Counselling, employment opportunities, support groups and awareness campaigns if implemented, can yield positive outcomes in curbing HIV among WWID.

Conclusion: Mechanisms to curb HIV among WWIN exist, and when implemented, they have the potential to address high HIV incidence among women who inject Nyaope.