Sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS – A framework for priority linkages

Overview

The majority of HIV infections are sexually transmitted or associated with pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The interactions between sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS are now widely recognized. In addition, sexual and reproductive ill-health and HIV/AIDS share root causes, including poverty, gender inequality and social marginalization of the most vulnerable populations. The international community agrees that the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved without ensuring access to SRH services and an effective global response to HIV/AIDS.

This framework proposes a set of key policy and programme actions to strengthen linkages between SRH and HIV/AIDS programmes. These linkages work in both directions, by integrating HIV/AIDS issues into ongoing SRH programmes, and conversely, SRH issues into HIV/AIDS programmes. This should enhance SRH, contribute to reversal of the AIDS epidemic and mitigate its impact.