The study found that childhood exposure to adversity in rural South Africa is common and influences the health of both women and men. Among the sample of 1,367 male and 1,415 female volunteers recruited from 70 rural villages, the study found that before age 18 both women and men had experienced physical punishment (89.3 percent and 94.4 percent, respectively); physical hardship (65.8 percent and 46.8 percent); emotional abuse (54.7 percent and 56.4 percent); emotional neglect (41.6 percent and 39.6 percent); and sexual abuse (39.1 percent and 16.7 percent). HIV infections were more common in women who had experienced emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical punishment. For women, emotional neglect was associated with depression, suicidality, alcohol abuse, and incident HSV2 (herpes simplex type 2 virus infection). For men emotional neglect was associated with depression and drug use. Sexual abuse was associated with alcohol abuse in men, as well as depression. These findings suggest that the prevention of child abuse should be included as part of the HIV prevention agenda in sub-Saharan Africa. Interventions by health and social systems are required to prevent emotional, sexual, and physical abuse of children and youth. The study sample was administered a questionnaire, and blood specimens were collected during a baseline survey for a cluster randomized controlled trial of a behavioral intervention. Participants were tested for HIV and HSV2 at 12 month and 24-month follow-up. 5 tables and 33 references