- Teen girls and young women in Africa are up to eight times more likely to contract HIV than their male peers.
- This is because women’s bodies increase their chances of getting HIV through sex. Teen girls are also still growing, so their cervixes have lots of soft tissue HIV can infect.
- Fewer girls than boys in Africa go to school. This increases their chances of getting HIV as adults, as they’re less likely to find jobs. Find out more from the first of our five-part video series on key populations (groups with a higher chance of getting infected with HIV).
- Read the full script here
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
