Question

“In order to curb HIV infection rates, we must take measures to address the fact that women are biologically, economically and culturally more vulnerable to contracting the virus…”. This statement was made on International Women’s Day 2002 by Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

i) In what ways are women more vulnerable to and more affected by HIV?

ii) What are some of the things that could be done to protect them? (You may address this from either a US or a developing country perspective.)

Answer 1

1. Biologically, women are more vulnerable than men to infection because of the greater mucus area exposed to HIV during penile penetration. Women under age 17 years are have greater risk because they have an underdeveloped cervix and low mucus production in female sex organs. The sexually transmitted diseases increase the risk of HIV transmission. Women's risk is also related to their exposure to gender inequalities in society. The social and economic pressures of poverty exacerbate women's risk.Poverty also drives women to barter sex for money or goods.

Possible factors for this increased risk include the facts that, in younger women, the lining of the v is thinner, mucus may be less profuse, ovulation is infrequent, and a transition zone of cells ringing the cervical opening is more exposed. Thus, biologic, social, and behavioral factors increase the vulnerability of young women.

Thus conclusionly having sex below adult age(premature age), sexual insecurities, having multiple sexual partners and sone social cultural norms are the major cause for HIV infection in womens.

2. As we know that the prevention is better than cure. So we gave take some important steps to protect women. To protect young women, societies will have to change cultural and sexual norms, values, and practices.

• Use condoms. Male latex condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and other STIs when you have sex. Because a man does not need to ejaculate (come) to give or get some STIs, make sure to put the condom on before the male sex organ touches the female sex organs, mouth. Female condoms can also help to prevent HIV infection.
• Get tested. Be sure you and your partner are tested for HIV and other STIs. Talk to each other about the test results before you have sex. Having an STI increases your chances of becoming infected with HIV during sex. If your partner has an STI in addition to HIV, that also increases your risk of HIV infection. If you have an STI, you should also get tested for HIV.
• Be monogamous. Having sex with just one partner can lower your risk for HIV and other STIs. After being tested for STIs, be faithful to each other. That means that you have sex only with each other and no one else.
• Limit your number of sexual partners. Your risk of getting HIV and other STIs goes up with the number of partners you have.
• Get vaccinated. You can get a vaccine to protect against HPV and hepatitis B, which are STIs. There is no vaccine to prevent or treat HIV.
• Don't douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the private body part that protects you from infection. This may increase your risk of getting HIV and other STIs.
• Do not abuse alcohol or drugs. Alcohol or drug abuse may lead to risky behaviors such as sharing needles to inject drugs or not using a condom when you have sex.

The steps work best when used together. No single step can protect you from every single type of STI.

I hope this answer will definitely help you. Please give me likes. All the best. THANK YOU STAY SAFE.