GENDER INEQUALITY IN HIV

1. INTRODUCTION
The impact of gender on HIV is an important dimension in understanding the
evolution of the epidemic. How have gender inequality and discrimination against
women affected the course of the HIV epidemic?
In the early stages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, infection was predominantly among
men. This situation has changed dramatically. Today, more than 42 million people
are living with HIV; 19.2 million of them are women. In2002, 5 million people
became infected with HIV with women representing 48% of all new infections. More
alarmingly, women are becoming infected at younger ages than men. In developing
countries, an estimated 67% of all newly infected individuals are between 15 and 24
years old.1
Studies suggest that women are more vulnerable to HIV than men because of
biological, social and cultural factors. A gender-based approach to HIV involves
examining how these biological and gender factors come together to increase a
woman's risk of becoming infected.
2. FACTORS AFFECTING WOMENS VULNERABILITY

2.1Biological

According to research, male to female transmission of HIV is two (2) to four

(4) times more efficient than female to male. 2 The presence of sexually
transmitted infections also increases the risk of transmission and acquisition
of HIV by up to 10-fold,3 and as most sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
are asymptomatic in women, diagnosis and treatment is more difficult.
Moreover, young women are especially vulnerable to HIV infection through
sexual intercourse because the immature genital tract of girls is more likely to
sustain tears during sexual activity, creating a higher risk of HIV
transmission.4
2.2 Social and Cultural
A woman's lower status can leave her more exposed to infection. Women lack
power and economic independence to negotiate safe sex and insist on

1 UNAIDS, World Health Organization. AIDS epidemic update December 2002. 2001;
WHO/UNAIDS: Geneva

2 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Addressing gender perspectives in HIV prevention, HIV
prevention now, programme briefs, no. 4. 2002; UNFPA

3 WHO. Integrating gender into HIV/AIDS programmes, review paper for expert consultation 35 June
2002. 2002; WHO: Geneva

4 UNAIDS. Gender and HIV/AIDS: UNAIDS technical update. 1998; UNAIDS: Geneva
 condom use. Indeed those who exchange sex for income can seldom mention
safe sex at all. For example, girls and young women may willingly initiate
relationships with older men to exchange sex for material benefit, especially
if they are very poor.5
Malawi
In a study in Malawi, two-thirds of 168 sexually active young women reported
having sex for money or gifts.6
2.3Violence Against Women
Violence against women, especially forced or coerced sex increases women's
vulnerability to HIV. One recent study of young women in South Africa found
that 30% of girls said their first intercourse was forced, 71% had experienced
sex against their will, and 11% had been raped. 7 The threat of violence
affects women's power and ability to negotiate the conditions of sexual
intercourse, especially condom use and it may also affect women's use of
services such as testing for HIV. For example, more than half of the women
who knew they were HIV infected, and who were surveyed by Kenya's
Population Council, said that they had not disclosed their HIV status to their
partners because they feared violence or being abandoned. 8
Tanzania
In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, fear of partner's reaction was a major reason why
women failed to test for HIV/AIDS. Other studies of HIV infected women report
physical harm after HIV is diagnosed.9
2.4Laws
Laws that discriminate against women also contribute to women's increased
risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS. In many societies legal impediments exist to
women inheriting property, asking for divorce, or protecting themselves from
forced marriages. In addition, customary law often favors male ownership and
control over family resources.10These inequalities are further fuelled by
discrimination within the family where decision-making power lies with men.

5 Ibid

6 UNAIDS. Gender and UNAIDS technical update. 1998; UNAIDS: Geneva HIV/AIDS:

7 UNAIDS. Gender and HIV/AIDS: taking stock of research and programs. 1999; UNAIDS: Geneva

8 Prins M., Brettle R.P., Robertson J.R., Hernandez Aguado I., Broers B., Carre N. et al. Geographical
variation in disease progression in HIV-1 seroconverted injecting drug users in Europe. Int J
Epidemiol. 28: 1999; 541549

9 World Health Organization. Violence against women and HIV/AIDS. 2000; WHO: Geneva
 This limits women's access to resources, including income, education and
other assets.
Moreover, in some countries their law sanctioned early marriage of girls.
Young girls usually marry significantly older men, which creates a power
imbalance in terms of experience, authority, and control over sexual activity
and resources.11
India
A study in Mumbai, India found that women believed that the economic
consequences of leaving a high-risk relationship were far worse than the
health consequences of staying with their partners. They reported having
little chance to instigate changes in their husbands behavior. 12
2.5Education, Knowledge and Skills
Education or knowledge about sex is also an important determinant of HIV
risk. Many cultures value ignorance about sexual interaction as a feature of
femininity. In some societies girls are taken from school by their families to
care for sick family members or to perform other household tasks,
jeopardizing their education and future prospects. 13 This inequality affects a
woman's ability to take informed decisions especially on risk reduction.
Philippines
In a study conducted in 2001 in the Philippines the study shows that 91% of
young women have heard about HIV but only 4% have sufficient knowledge
how to protect themselves. Paradoxically, because men are expected to have
more information and experience with sex, they are often less likely to admit
what they dont know or understand. This increases the risk of infection and
misinformation.14
Due to technological advancement in the country today, young women is
expected to be more knowledgeable about Sex and HIV because of the
accessibility of the information on the internet.
3. GENDER DIFFERENCES FOR PREVENTION AND CARE

10 United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). Turning the tide, CEDAW and the gender dimensions of
the HIV/AIDS pandemic. 2001; UNIFEM: New York

11 Ibid

12 Rao Gupta G. How men's power over women fuels the HIV epidemic. Br Med J. 324: 2002; 183

13 Gender, poverty, and intergenerational vulnerability to HIV/AIDS Gender Dev

14 Integrating gender into HIV/AIDS programmes, review paper for expert consultation 35 June 2002
 3.2 Nigeria
Nigeria has the second highest cases of HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In the study conducted by the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social
Sciences, University of Lagos it showed how women with HIV suffer
discrimination in health care facilities in Lagos state from the perspectives of
people living with HIV.

HIV-related discrimination Male Female Total

Mandated to have HIV 1 16 17
test (without consent)
Treated differently from 28 31 59
other patients
Movement restricted 3 15 18

The table highlights the diverse forms of discrimination experienced by men

and women living with HIV in the health facilities. This finding validates that
women were more vulnerable to discrimination in the healthcare settings
than men.15
3.2 Cost of Treatment
Men and women are both affected by the costs of HIV treatment, however
since women are often poorer it is more difficult for them to afford treatment.
Women may also be constrained by cultural practices that prevent them from
seeking health care services or because they feel uncomfortable with the
possibility of being counseled or treated by males. Also in many societies, the
responsibility for care and support falls on women. They often put their
children and other family members before themselves and men's illnesses
are often perceived as more important because it is generally the men who
earn money for the family. A woman's contribution to family survival is
usually undervalued and women's illnesses may be ignored until they are
unable to perform daily tasks.16
4. HIV IN THE PHILIPPINES
Many of the cases of HIV in the country are still due to men having sex with
men (MSM), with a portion from intravenous drug use with infected needles.
Women who engage in sexual acts with infected partners can get sick, along
with those who administer intravenous drugs with infected needles. There
have even been cases where a razor blade was used and reused in a barber
shop, infecting others with the virus, making their female partners

15 African Population Studies Vol 24, 1&2 (2010) 88 Gender and HIV-related
discrimination in the health sector in Nigeria Chinwe R. Nwanna Department of
Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos
Nigeria

16 UNAIDS. Gender and HIV/AIDS: UNAIDS technical update. 1998; UNAIDS: Geneva
susceptible as well. It is also possible for an HIV-positive mother to transmit
the virus to her child during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or even over the
course of breast-feeding.
Data from the DOH showed a drop in the number of cases of HIV infection
among sex workers, who are mostly female. This was due to government's
previous measures to address unprotected intercourse between men and
women, such as a campaign by the DOH during the 1990s. It also helps that
entertainers who engage in transactional sex on the side are part of a
"captive sector" who got checked.