Resilience in the Context of HIV Risk: A Strengths-Based Perspective for HIV Prevention Among South African Girls and Young Women

LoVette, Ashleigh M.

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Year:: 2020
Contributor:: LoVette, Ashleigh M. (creator); Operario, Don (Reader); Mathews, Catherine (Reader); Kuo, Caroline (Advisor); Harrison, Abigail (Advisor); Brown University. Behavioral and Social Sciences Department (sponsor)
Genre:: theses
Subject:: Sexual health; South Africa; Women; Adolescence; resilience; HIV prevention
Extent:: xiii, 125 p.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26300/tvxy-w576

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Abstract:: Populations disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic face conditions predisposing them to negative sexual health outcomes. South Africa has one of the largest populations affected by HIV globally with approximately 7.9 million people living with HIV. South African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are consistently placed at a disproportionate risk for HIV when compared to boys and young men of the same age, and HIV prevalence among South African women grows rapidly during transitions to adulthood. Thus, innovative ways to promote the sexual health of South African AGYW are needed. Resilience is one potential strengths-based approach to promote sexual health. This dissertation aims to develop the evidence-base on the resilience of AGYW in a priority global scientific setting for HIV prevention. Results are derived from analyses of two data sources collected from 2017 to 2019. These sources include: 1) Secondary data comprised of a household-based representative sample from an evaluation study of combination HIV prevention programming for South African AGYW; 2) Primary data generated from qualitative interviews with South African AGYW. To address a gap in prevention-science knowledge, Chapter 1 investigated associations between resilience and sexual health outcomes among South African AGYW, and demonstrated increased resilience is associated with significantly greater odds of later sexual debt and also showed biologically-verified HIV status moderated this association. Using the same representative sample of AGYW, Chapter 2 examined whether social resources mediated the effect of associations between resilience and sexual health outcomes, and concluded both types of social resources mediated the effect of resilience on transactional sex. Finally, using quantitative and qualitative data, Chapter 3 expanded our understanding of narratives of resilience as South African women transition to adulthood in the context of HIV risk. The final chapter showed younger girls perceived themselves to be less resilient than their older counterparts, and also pointed to social support as a critical interpersonal factor helping AGYW foster resilience. This dissertation adds to a growing body of literature focused on resilience and HIV prevention, and offers novel implications for programming and policy to promote sexual health among AGYW living within contexts of heightened adversity.
Notes:: Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brown University, 2020

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LoVette, Ashleigh M., "Resilience in the Context of HIV Risk: A Strengths-Based Perspective for HIV Prevention Among South African Girls and Young Women" (2020). Public Health Theses and Dissertations. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://doi.org/10.26300/tvxy-w576

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Public Health Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations for the Public Health department.
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