STI Advocacy in South Africa
In South Africa, STIs remain widespread, yet limited access to diagnostics, insufficient surveillance, fragmented coordination and underinvestment allow many infections to go undetected and untreated. This contributes to HIV transmission, antimicrobial resistance and poor reproductive and maternal health outcomes.
- 40% of women aged 18–33 in some South African cohorts had at least 1 active STI at baseline
- 1 essential treatment: benzathine benzylpenicillin (BPG) for syphilis in pregnancy is available, but its supply chain remains uncertain
- 30% tetracycline resistance detected in gonorrhea isolates, signaling growing antimicrobial resistance concerns
South Africa Advocacy Agenda
In South Africa, access to credible STI information, strengthened advocacy capacity across communities, healthcare providers and policymakers, and a rights-based approach to sexual health is essential to improving STI prevention, diagnosis and care.
About STIs in South Africa
Explore the data on prevalence, health impacts and the factors shaping South Africa’s STI landscape.
South Africa Partners
Resources
New STI Resources: Strengthening STI Diagnosis and Care
The Advocates’ Guide to Syndromic Management
DoxyPEP Beyond the Guidelines: Turning Evidence Into Equitable Access
STI Prevalence Atlas
AVAC and Partners Launch New STI Advocacy Agendas in Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe
STIWatch Resource Tracking
STIWatch March 2026 Newsletter
Looking Back at 2025 and What We’re Watching in 2026
STIWatch November Newsletter
Beyond Borders
