Assessing the vulnerability of women street traders to HIV/AIDS

A comparative analysis of Uganda and South Africa

By Lee S
Produced by: Health Economics & HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD), University of Natal (2004)

This HEARD study examines women street traders' vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in South Africa and Uganda. The paper examines how conditions of employment in the informal economy influence women's social and economic marginalisation. It then goes on to explore how this is linked to the social and behavioural dynamics that influence HIV/AIDS. Findings show that most of the women live and work in poor areas, and lack basic health and welfare services and social protection. Moreover, their location of work at traffic intersections, truck stops and transport hubs results in high levels of violence, abuse and rape. These factors all contribute to an increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

The report outlines a number of recommendations, including: secure, allocated trading sites in properly planned and managed markets, where women could trade legally, and micro-finance and community-based micro-health insurance schemes. The report calls for further research in:

• Sexual behaviour and vulnerability,
• Gender-based violence and the changing nature of gender constructions,
• Street-trade as an HIV coping strategy,
• And decentralised systems of social protection.

Finally, the report calls for an environment where local government can implement gender-sensitive HIV prevention programmes as well as local economic development policies.