Programme for Research and Capacity Building in Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV in Developing Countries

HIV/AIDS is among the greatest threats to development in the world today. Sixty million people have been infected in the past 25 years, more than 20 million have died, and 40 million are living with the virus. The poorest countries have been most severely affected, and within them, the poorest people.

Poverty is a major determinant of other reproductive health outcomes in addition to HIV. Studies have shown that the poor have larger families than the rich, that poor women are less likely to give birth attended by trained health staff, and that poor women have lower access to family planning services.

The implications for global poverty of adopting proven, effective, evidence-based programmes for reproductive health and HIV prevention and care are significant. The Consortium is working to strengthen the evidence base and to address the vicious cycle of poverty and reproductive ill-health.