Chanda Mwamba

This session is framed around sexual and gender-based violence against children and adolescents, key populations including men who have sex with men and transgender women and its impact on health- HIV testing, PrEP use, and viral suppression. An intervention highlights how empowering adolescents/young women reduced vulnerability and health risks

The session demonstrated alarming sexual and gender-based violence. Marcus Mosley assessed the relationship between childhood/young-adulthood sexual violence experiences (SVEs) and HIV and PrEP use in later life among MSM of color. Results indicated participants experienced forced or pressured first sexual experiences before the age of 18. No associations were found between these violence and HIV testing and PrREP use. Rose Apondi highlighted the increased GBV sexual violence during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures. GBV data from the Uganda Health Management System and Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development reports indicated increased GBV cases during COVID-19 period among females from 17,702 reports for post-rape care and 3,274 received PEP compared to 22,013 and 3,348 during COVID-19 period. Anna M. Leddy reported on a unique longitudinal analysis on the impact of GBV on viral suppression among transgender women (TGW) living with HIV in Brazil. The study demonstrates associations of sexual violence experiences with reduced likelihood of viral suppression among TGW. NELSON ASIRA described a girls and young women empowerment program through provision and training related to leadership, businesses, village savings and loaning groups to reduce their vulnerability to social economic vulnerability and health risks.

Global implementation of the HIV response managing the impact of COVID-19 must be multifaceted incorporating the social, health, emotional and acknowledge the vulnerability and worsened situations of vulnerable populations. Evidence from the session challenges targeted solutions to protect and close gaps worsened by COVID context.