Women and HIV

[Guest guest]

Women and HIV

 

There are Differences Between Men and Women Where HIV is Concerned.

The HIV virus does not discriminate between men and women. Either

can be infected, and both can infect others. But there are

considerable differences between men living with HIV and women

living with HIV. Infection rates and infection prevalence are not

the same across the sexes, and there are needs and concerns unique

to women living with the disease. Let's take a look at women and

HIV. What are those differences and how do they impact women who

live with this disease?

The Facts About Women and HIV

Here are some facts:

• Today, roughly 40 million people worldwide are living with

HIV.

• It's estimated that 50 percent of those people living with

the disease are women.

• While men still make up the majority of HIV cases in the

United States, about 300,000 women are living with HIV.

• The proportion of HIV cases that are women has tripled from

about eight percent to 27 percent since 1985.

• From 2000 to 2004, the number of men living with HIV has

increased by seven percent while the number of women infected has

increased 10 percent.

HIV and Women - What Does it Look Like in the United States?

There are some disturbing trends emerging in the United States with

regard to HIV and women.

 

In this time of increasing HIV infection among women, young women

and women of color have been the hardest hit.

• Women of color account for 79 percent of all new infections

among women 13 to 19 years of age, and 75 percent among women 20 to

24 years of age.

• Among all HIV cases in people 13 to 19 years of age, women

of color account for 50 percent of them.

• In 2002, AIDS was the leading cause of death among black

women 25 to 34 years old.

It's obvious that women are being impacted by HIV at an alarming

rate. But why is this? If HIV does not discriminate, how can these

statistical differences be explained? The sad truth is that women

are more vulnerable to HIV infection in many ways.

Why Are Women Vulnerable to HIV?

There are vulnerabilities to HIV that are unique to women. These

help to account for the differences in infection rates between men

and women worldwide. Some of those vulnerabilities include:

• Physical Differences - The incidence of heterosexual

transmission in the United States has been on the rise since 1985.

At that time, about three percent of all known cases were

heterosexually transmitted. That figure today is about 27 percent.

Finally, 70 percent of all new HIV infections are a result of

heterosexual sex; worldwide, 90 percent of all infections are

heterosexual. Women are especially susceptible to heterosexual

transmission physically because the mucosal lining of the vagina

offers a large surface area to be exposed to HIV-infected seminal

fluid.

• Easier to Transmit from Men to Women than Women to Men –

Again, anatomical differences between men and women mean

transmission from men to women is easier than the other way around.

Much like the rectal mucosa makes transmission during anal

intercourse easier, the mucosal lining of the vagina offers a large

surface area to be exposed to infected seminal fluid. Plus, the

vagina is more susceptible to small tears and irritation during

intercourse than is the penis. These properties offer a portal for

HIV to enter the body and infect the woman.

• Gender Inequities – Especially in developing countries,

prevailing gender inequities leads to higher-risk behaviors. For

instance, in many cultures women are not free to refuse sex or to

insist on safer sex using condoms. Men assume a position of power

and control over women, minimizing the amount of input and consent

from women. In addition, women have less access to employment and

education in these developing countries. Often, the sex trade is one

of the few options for women trying to earn money and support

themselves and their children. Finally, sexual violence against

women is very high in some areas, again exposing them to high-risk

behaviors without their consent.

What Challenges Do Women Face?

Obviously, HIV impacts anyone who has the disease, whether male or

female. An HIV diagnosis, while not a death sentence, will most

certainly be a life-changing event. However, there are some

challenges that are unique to women:

• There is an increased risk of reproductive illnesses

including vaginal yeast infections, pelvic inflammatory disease

(PID), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.

• Because women often have lower incomes than men or work

lower paying jobs with minimal benefits, women have less access to

HIV care and affordable medical insurance.

• Women are more likely to postpone health care due to illness

or lack of transportation than are men.

• Women assume more family care responsibilities and are more

likely to sacrifice their own health care in order to care for their

family, especially their children.

Is Anything Being Done?

The disparities between men and women who live with HIV have not

gone unnoticed. In fact, the National Institute of Allergy and

Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has placed a new emphasis in women-

focused HIV research, funding and sponsoring studies around the

world. Once such example is the research being done in hopes of

developing a microbicide gel or cream that would provide an

inexpensive and easy-to-use product that would allow women to assume

more control over safer sex.

While work is being done to close the gap between men and women, the

fact remains that a disparity does exist. Until that gap is closed,

we will see infection rates among women continue to climb, something

none of us can really afford to let happen.

 

 

You can contact Tina at tina_5040 for awareness program.

 

Regards,

 

Tina