HIV has increased among girls aged 15 to 19, because of 'older men sleeping with these teenage girls'

South African teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have recorded a spike in HIV infections, reportedly because older men are having sex with them. 

On Monday, The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), in collaboration with its partners, announced key findings from the Sixth South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey (SABSSM VI).

The study highlighted progress towards eradicating HIV in South Africa – a country with the world's largest HIV epidemic. The survey was conducted among 27 000 households in all nine provinces between January 2022 and April 2023.