Opinion piece on equitable investments in HIV/SRHR services for adolescent boys and young men in Botswana

Social Media Brief

  My name is Goabaone Tshegofatso TITTLE: Influence equitable investments in HIV/SRH programming for adolescent boys and young men in Botswana TAKE THEM ON BOARD TOO Oftern times we hear of projects that are for women and children or adolecesnt girls and young women. The big question can be ‘’is there anything for their male counterparts?’’ HIV and AIDS remians a serious concern to our country despite the efforts by the govenment to reduce the new infections. Although the brunt of new HIV infections in Botswana are among adolescent girls and young women AGYW (out of every four new HIV infections, 3 are among AGYW), it is important that programming doesn’t leave adolescent boys and young men behind. Most of the funding is directed to Adolescent Girls and Young Women or for both, and limited funding for HIV/SRHR programming for adolescent boys and young men There is limited investment in HIV/SRH for adolescent boys and young men in Botswana which has led them to lag behind in accessing HIV prevention and SRH services. For so many years, assumptions have been made about men and boys in regards to their health that they are doing well and have fewer to less needs as compared to their counterparts (women and girls). In addition, assumptions have been made that they are difficult to work with, are aggressive, and are unconcerned with their health. Often seen as perpetrators of violence, violence against women, against other men, and against themselves. We have not pondered on to understand how our socialization of boys and men encourages this violence. Over the years, many initiatives have been done to empower women leaving men behind.  Engaging men more extensively on HIV prevention has a tremendous potential to reduce women’s risk for HIV, Hence why, I have decided to engage them in the fight against HIV. Botswana 2020 population is estimated at 2,351,627 people at mid year according to UN data. Botswana population is equivalent to 0.03% of the total world population (worldometers). Botswana is still one of the countries most affected by HIV in the world, despite its provision of universal free antiretroviral treatment (ART) to all people living with HIV, at 20.3% making it the fourth highest HIV prevalence in the world. As of 2019, 380 000 people are living with HIV out of this population 20.7% where adults (15-49). Even though, females have a relatively higher prevalence rate of 19.2 percent compared to 14.1 percent of males, which is a slight decline from the 2008 BAIS III where prevalence rate for males was at14.2percent and females at 20.4 percent(BAIS IV, 2013) Prevalence in older adults was higher among older males (27.8%) than females (21.9%).Furthermore, 58.9% of older adults acknowledged being sexually active, with 59.0% of these admitting to inconsistent condom use during sexual intercourse. In addition to this low condom usage, older men (6.0%) were significantly more likely to be unaware of their HIV-positive status than older women (3.0%). While HIV prevalence showed a dramatic increase among older men over time (17.2% in 2004, to 23.4% in 2008, to 27.8% in 2013), the trend was flatter among older women (16.3% in 2004, to 22.4% in 2008, to 21.9% in 2013).