Scientists say droughts could heighten the transmission of HIV, particularly through activities like transactional sex, The East African reports.
A recent study by University of Bristol revealed that drought-induced behavioural changes, often driven by insufficient resources, could contribute to the spread of HIV.Published in Aids and Behaviour, last month, the study suggests that droughts trigger behavioural changes among the affected populations as people grapple with poverty and food insecurity.
The study data from Eswatini, Lesotho, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, indicated that women recently exposed to drought were more likely to acquire HIV than their counterparts who had not experienced drought.The study says as climate change progresses, the frequency of droughts is expected to rise, potentially leading to an increase in HIV transmission rates.
The study, focusing on rural women as opposed to urban women or men in either rural or urban settings, align with previous research indicating that drought may drive women reliant on agriculture towards engaging in sex work.
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