Where "being married" may be the greatest risk factor for acquiring HIV. Country focus: Ghana
Asamoah-odei, E.
Aids Analysis Africa 6(5): 4-5
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1016-8974 PMID: 12347433 Document Number: 300527
HIV/AIDS is endemic in Ghana, with equal proportions of men and women infected. The situation is worsening and prevention and control measures must be intensified. Young people have the highest rate of HIV infection; the highest prevalence among pregnant women is consistently found among 20-24 year olds. Female school dropouts and girls who have never been to school are at particular risk. Surveys indicate that many such women lack knowledge about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD), fail to practice safer sex, and do not have adequate access to health care. Many exchange sex for cash and other substantive offerings. Current education and prevention messages, however, are not enough to induce people to practice safe sex. Women may want to protect themselves against HIV infection, but be in no position to do so. For example, it is socially acceptable for the husbands of married women to have other sex partners. Should the man contract HIV from his extramarital partners, his wife will be at considerable risk; wives in Ghanaian society typically do not have enough power to demand safe sex with their husbands. Many other women must prostitute themselves to survive in the country's widespread poverty. The underlying social and economic factors which put women at risk for contracting and transmitting HIV must be addressed.