Print version ISSN 0038-2353 S. Afr. j. sci. vol.108 no.7-8
Pretoria 2012 NEWS AND VIEWS Centre for Infectious Diseases
Epidemiology & Research, School of Public Health & Family
Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa For
almost two decades, scientists around the world have grappled
with the question of whether women's use of hormonal
contraception increases their risk of becoming infected with the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For the health of women
across South Africa, the stakes are incredibly high. There are
over 5 million HIV-infected women and men living in the country,
and the vast majority are of reproductive age.1 At the same
time, millions of women use hormonal contraception: injectable
hormones and oral contraceptive pills are used by approximately
28% and 10% of South African women of reproductive age,
respectively.2 Providing hormonal contraception is a critical
part of promoting women's health in South Africa and globally;
if hormonal contraceptives were to increase wom