Women and AIDS
Balaji, L.N.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 92(1): 15-6 38
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 8207271 Document Number: 433923
In many countries, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has become one of young people, mainly women, and children because of cultural values and the status of women and girls in society. In India and Southeast Asian countries, 80-90% of HIV infection results from heterosexual intercourse; men seek unprotected sex with multiple casual partners because of taboos concerning sexual intercourse during menstruation or after childbirth. Since a woman's status depends on her ability to bear sons, the use of barrier methods is precluded. Women are at greater risk of HIV infection, whether on a percent or per partnership basis. Because men tend to choose younger female sex partners, there is a tendency for the level of HIV infection to be higher in women than in men in the same age cohort. Although serosurveillance in India initially demonstrated a higher prevalence in men, the ratio is reversing. Lower levels of education among women lead to misconceptions about disease prevention, reduce receptivity to public health interventions, and limit access to health care. Repeated pregnancies, poor reproductive hygiene, a tradition of not seeking care, the use of multiple partners by men, and normal labor and operative procedures place women at greater risk of sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV infection. Regardless of HIV transmission rates, the World Health Organization recommends breast feeding. Women living in settings where the risk of the infant dying from infectious disease or malnutrition is high should breast feed, even if infected with HIV; in other settings, infected women should use an alternative. The choice of an artificial method and product should not be subject to commercial pressure. Counseling and family planning information and services should be provided to all infected adults. The first priority in all countries is to prevent women of childbearing age from being infected; education, access to condoms, and STD prevention and care are primary activities. The quality of care and access to maternal health and family planning services need to improve, especially with regard to pregnancy complications.