AIDS Becomes Leading Cause of Death for Young Women

According to a recent study from the World Health Organization, the AIDS virus is the leading cause of death and disease among women between the ages of 15 and 44.

Throughout the world, one in five deaths among women in this age group is linked to unsafe sex, according to the U.N. agency.

This is certainly depressing news as we already know that more and more women are disappearing each year by the millions.

For those who are unfamiliar with the plight of HIV/AIDS among women, here are a few facts from the WHO:

• Globally, 50% of all people living with HIV  are women.
• In sub-Saharan Africa, young women (15-24) are three to six times more likely to be infected  than men in the same age group.
• In some Asian countries, e.g. Cambodia and India, women are increasingly infected with HIV within the context of marriage.
• Access to ARV therapy quadrupled from 7% in 2003 to 31% in 2007. In many countries, women have access to treatment in proportion to their expected need.
• Although in most parts of the world women live longer than men, AIDS has driven women's life expectancy below that of men in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The WHO points to several key factors for the increase of this epidemic among young women:

• Gender Inequality: Gender norms related to masculinity can encourage men to have more sexual partners and older men to have sexual relations with much younger women. In some settings, this contributes to higher infection rates among young women (15-24 years) compared to young men. Norms related to masculinity, i.e. homophobia, stigmatizes men having sex with men, and makes them and their partners vulnerable to HIV. Norms related to femininity can prevent women - especially young women - from accessing HIV information and services. Only 38% of young women have accurate, comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS according to the 2008 UNAIDS global figures.
• Violence against women (physical, sexual and emotional), which is experienced by 10 to 60% of women (ages 15-49 years) worldwide, increases their vulnerability to HIV. Forced sex can contribute to HIV transmission due to tears and lacerations resulting from the use of force. Gender-related barriers in access to services prevent women and men from accessing HIV prevention, treatment and care.
• Barriers to understanding HIV: Women may face barriers due to their lack of access to and control over resources, child-care responsibilities, restricted mobility and limited decision-making power. Women assume the major share of care-giving in the family, including for those living with and affected by HIV. This is often unpaid and is based on the assumption that women "naturally" fill this role. Lack of education and economic security affects millions of women and girls, whose literacy levels are generally lower than men and boys'.
• Stigmatization of Women with HIV: Many women, especially those living with HIV, lose their homes, inheritance, possessions, livelihoods and even their children when their partners die.

Many national HIV/AIDS programs fail to address underlying gender inequalities. In 2008, only 52% of countries who reported to the UN General Assembly included specific, budgeted support for women-focused HIV/AIDS programs. The WHO is providing a new tool to help health-care providers in the public and private sectors integrate gender into HIV/AIDS programs they wish to set up, implement and evaluate so they are more responsive to women's needs.

The Associated Press shares more information from the report.

Photo credit: lynnefeatherstone on Flickr