Small cash payments can reduce young women’s dependence on sexual relationship with older men and consequently lower the girls’ HIV risk, a recent World Bank study conducted in Zomba in southern Malawi has revealed, reports The Weekend Nation.
Principal Secretary for Nutrition and HIV/AIDS, Dr Mary Shawa, on Thursday said she was aware of the findings and that government is already implementing projects related to the study.
The study report, released last week, found that 18 months of cash transfers with or without conditions attached decreased the participants’ risk of HIV infection by 60 percent.
The study attributes the declines in HIV and genital herpes risk to delayed sexual onset, reduced sexual activity and the choice of younger male partners more.
