South Africa is making tremendous progress in the fight against HIV, however, adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years (AGYW) remain at higher risk of new HIV infections. This paper investigates socio-demographic and behavioural determinants of HIV infection among AGYW in South Africa. A secondary data analysis was undertaken based on the 2012 population-based nationally representative multi-stage stratified cluster random household sample. Multivariate stepwise backward and forward regression modelling was used to determine factors independently associated with HIV prevalence. Out of 3092 interviewed and tested AGYW 11.4% were HIV positive. Overall HIV prevalence was significantly higher among young women (17.4%) compared to adolescent girls (5.6%). In the AGYW model increased risk of HIV infection was associated with being young women aged 20–24 years (OR = 2.30, p = 0.006), and condom use at last sex (OR = 1.91, p = 0.010), and decreased likelihood was associated with other race groups (OR = 0.06, p < 0.001), sexual partner within 5 years of age (OR = 0.53, p = 0.012), tertiary level education (OR = 0.11, p = 0.002), low risk alcohol use (OR = 0.19, p = 0.022) and having one sexual partner (OR = 0.43, p = 0.028). In the adolescent girls model decreased risk of HIV infection was associated with other race groups (OR = 0.01, p < 0.001), being married (OR = 0.07), p = 0.016], and living in less poor household (OR = 0.08, p = 0.002). In the young women’s models increased risk of HIV infection was associated with condom use at last sex (OR = 2.09, p = 0.013), and decreased likelihood was associated with other race groups (OR = 0.17, p < 0.001), one sexual partner (OR = 0.6, p = 0.014), low risk alcohol use (OR = 0.17, p < 0.001), having a sexual partner within 5 years of age (OR = 0.29, p = 0.022), and having tertiary education (OR = 0.29, p = 0.022). These findings support the need to design combination prevention interventions which simultaneously address socio-economic drivers of the HIV epidemic, promote education, equity and access to schooling, and target age-disparate partnerships, inconsistent condom use and risky alcohol consumption.

This paper estimates the prevalence of self-reported cataract and associated risk factors among individuals aged ≥50 years in South Africa. Data from a nationally-representative cross-sectional Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) (N = 3646) conducted in South Africa from 2007–2008 was analyzed. The primary outcome was self-reported cataract, and exposures included socio-demographics, self-reported co-morbidities, and behavioral factors. Linearized multivariate logistic regression models were used. The weighted prevalence of self-reported diagnosed cataract was 4.4% (95%CI: 3.4–5.8). Prevalence was greater among individuals with advancing age (10.2%), higher quality of life (QoL) (5.9%), education (5.2%), and wealth (5.8%) than their counterparts. Prevalence was also higher among individuals with depression (17.5%), diabetes (13.3%), hypertension (9.1%), and stroke (8.4%) compared to those without these conditions, with the exception of obesity (4.2%). In the final multivariate model, the odds of self-reported cataract were: 4.14 times higher among people ≥70 years than 50 to 59 year olds (95%CI: 2.28–7.50); 2.48 times higher in urban than rural residents (95%CI: 1.25–4.92); 5.16, 2.99, and 1.97 times higher for individuals with depression (95%CI: 1.92–13.86), hypertension (95%CI: 1.60–5.59), and diabetes (95%CI: 1.07–3.61), compared to those without these conditions.