Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39632075›Full record

Observational studySexually transmitted infections2025

Differences in HIV risk factors between South African adolescents and adult women and their association with sexually transmitted infections.

Pamela Mkhize, Celia Mehou-Loko, Nokuthula Maphumulo, Nina Radzey, Andrea G Abrahams, Sengeziwe Sibeko, Rushil Harryparsad, Monalisa Manhanzva, Bahiah Meyer, Phumla Radebe and 17 more

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Sexually transmitted infections, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

27 authors.

Pamela MkhizeCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
Celia Mehou-LokoDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Nokuthula MaphumuloCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
Nina RadzeyDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Andrea G AbrahamsDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Sengeziwe SibekoHuman Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.
Rushil HarryparsadDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Monalisa ManhanzvaDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Bahiah MeyerDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Phumla RadebeBiochemistry Department, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Lenine J P LiebenbergCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
Sinaye NgcapuCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
Nadia AhmedSexual Health and HIV, Central and North West London NHS Trust, London, UK.
Funeka BusakweDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Noluthando MqabaDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Derseree ArcharyCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
Aida SivroCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
Natasha SamsunderCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
Disebo PotloaneCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
William HorsnellDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Christine JordanLife Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Quarraisha Abdool KarimCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa.
Linda-Gail BekkerUniversity of Cape Town Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-0755-4386
Jo-Ann PassmoreDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Heather JaspanDepartment of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Hilton HumphriesCentre for Community-Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.
Lindi MassonCentre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa lindi.masson@burnet.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-2539-817X

Funding

Mucosal injury from sexual practices: Behaviour and biology of South African adolescentsR01AI128792 · NIAID · SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · PI JASPAN, HEATHER BERYL, PASSMORE, JO-ANN SHELLEY · 2017 to 2020
$2.2M
NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI128792
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesIn sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 86% of HIV infections in adolescents aged 15-19 years occur among girls. Their heightened susceptibility is likely influenced by converging sociobehavioural and biological factors, although the relative contributions remain unclear. To address this, we compared known and hypothesised risk factors for HIV between cisgender adolescent girls and adult women in South Africa and evaluated the relationships between these factors and sexually transmitted infection (STI) status.

methodsThis cross-sectional observational study included adolescent (n=305; 14-19 years) and adult females (n=114; 25-35 years) in two South African provinces (Western Cape (WC), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)). Demographic and sociobehavioural data were collected by questionnaire. Colposcopy was conducted to identify cervicovaginal abnormalities, and tests for bacterial vaginosis (BV),

resultsAdults reported higher risk sexual behaviour than adolescents across multiple variables, although adolescents were more likely to have STIs than adults (62.8% vs 34.0%, respectively, p=0.0010 for WC; 42.5% vs 16.4%, respectively, p=0.0002 for KZN). Adolescents did, however, report earlier sexual debut (16 years old vs 17 years old, p<0.0001 for both sites) and KZN adolescents were more likely to use intravaginal sexual enhancers than adults (34.6% vs 20.6%, respectively, p=0.0417). Numbers of sexual partners (β-coefficient: 0.34, SE: 0.12, p=0.0054) and sex acts within the previous 3 months (β-coefficient: 0.25, SE: 0.09, p=0.0062) were associated with STIs in adolescents and trended to significance for adults. Intravaginal sexual enhancer use (KZN only; β-coefficient: 0.95, SE: 0.38, p=0.0118) and biological risk factors, including BV Nugent score (β-coefficient: 0.09, SE: 0.04, p=0.0257) and signs of cervicovaginal injury/inflammation (β-coefficient: 1.07, SE: 0.45, p=0.0171), were associated with STIs in adolescents but not adults.

conclusionsRisk factors for STIs including HIV may differ between age groups of girls and women, and mitigation interventions may need to be tailored accordingly.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsSexual BehaviorSexually Transmitted DiseasesAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansRisk FactorsRisk-TakingSexual PartnersSouth AfricaYoung AdultAFRICAHIVReproductive Tract InfectionsWOMEN

Identifiers

PMID39632075
PMCPMC11999788

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.