When it comes to sexual transmission of HIV, women are a higher-risk group than men, and the numbers of HIV-infected women are on the rise. Some statistics about women and HIV/AIDS:

-Young women make up 62% of worldwide infected youth between 15 and 24.
-In sub-Saharan Africa the number of HIV-positive women increased by 1 million between 2003 and 2005. 76% of HIV-positive young people in sub-Saharan Africa are female.
-In South Asia, 62% of young people living with HIV/AIDS are female.
-In the Caribbean the number of HIV-positive cases that are women rose from 30% in 1999 to 50% in 2005.
-In the U.S. from 1999 to 2003, the number of women with AIDS rose by 15%, as opposed to 1% for men with AIDS.

For biological reasons, women are more vulnerable to HIV during the sex act because the female genitalia are more receptive to the HIV virus than the male genitalia. However, just as harmful as the biological risk, if not more, is the universal lack of women’s access to services and information about HIV/AIDS and reproductive rights.

Insufficient AIDS education is offered in schools, or the education is not offered early enough in adolescence, and misconceptions (such as men’s belief that sex with a virgin will cure AIDS) are widespread. This lack of access leads to statistics such as: Less than 20% of married women in Bangladesh have ever heard of AIDS. The equivalent number is 26% of young girls in Somalia, and only 1% in that country have information on HIV prevention.

Married women are particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Sexual transmission from husbands or primary partners accounts for more than 80% of new infections in women. Unfortunately, women are often put in danger in their monogamous relationships because of violence, coercion, or husbands’ infidelity.

A staggering one-third of women will be raped, sexually abused, or coerced into sex in their lifetimes. Statistics show that women in physically or emotionally abusive relationships are 50% more likely to contract HIV. Women and particularly young girls often avoid addressing condom use with their partners, in fear of violence or rejection (this is true of 58% of girls in Africa.) As for infidelity, married women are often exposed to HIV and many other STIs brought into the sexual relationship by their husbands – more than one-fourth of sex workers’ customers in India are married men.

 

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