HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa

Southern Africa is the epicenter of the global HIV/AIDS crisis. This text discusses the dimensions of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its destructive impacts to-date on the populations and economies of the countries in the region. HIV-related stigma and discrimination and gender inequalities are prevalent in southern Africa and drive the epidemic, which results in deepening inequities for these and other already marginalized populations. This paper was originally written as a chapter of the PHR report Epidemic of Inequality: Women's Rights and HIV/AIDS in Botswana & Swaziland.