Women Who Have Sex With Women (WSW)
1. HIV prevention programs are needed for WSW. Studies found that no training programs addressed the HIV-related needs of WSW, health providers discriminated against WSW and were refused treatment. WSW did not tell providers their sexual orientation and/or their relationships with men due to a need for non-judgmental services.
Gap noted, for example, in South Africa (Van Dyk, 2011; Henderson et al., 2011).
2. Health care settings need to offer appropriate, non-discriminatory services—and be attentive to HIV risk behaviors—to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of WSW. Studies found that a number of WSW also have sexual relationships with men yet did not get tested for HIV.
Gap noted, for example, in Brazil (Mora and Monteiro, 2010; Pinto et al., 2005); South Africa (HRW, 2011a; Wells et al., ND); South Africa (Henderson et al., 2011); Botswana (IGLHRC, 2007) and globally (Roberts et al., 2010).