Part 2 Gender and HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS IS A GENDER ISSUE BECAUSE: I Although HIV effects both men and women, women are more vulnerable because of biological,

Part 2Part 2Gender and HIV/AIDSGender and HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS IS A GENDER ISSUE HIV/AIDS IS A GENDER ISSUE BECAUSE:BECAUSE:

I Although HIV effects both men and womenI Although HIV effects both men and women, , women are more vulnerable because of women are more vulnerable because of biological, social, religious and economic biological, social, religious and economic factors.factors.

Gender and HIV/AIDSGender and HIV/AIDS

According to UNAIDS global reports 2010According to UNAIDS global reports 2010

In 2002, 46% of 33.4 million adults living with In 2002, 46% of 33.4 million adults living with HIV/AIDS were women. HIV/AIDS were women.

55% of the 16,000 new infections occurring 55% of the 16,000 new infections occurring daily are women.daily are women.


A trend observed in some countries the male to A trend observed in some countries the male to female ratio among HIV infected persons has begun female ratio among HIV infected persons has begun to equalise. to equalise.

In fact in some of the worst affected countries, In fact in some of the worst affected countries, women outnumber men. women outnumber men.

Bottom line:Bottom line:

In sub-Saharan Africa women increasingly make up the In sub-Saharan Africa women increasingly make up the majority of People living with HIVmajority of People living with HIV/AIDS. /AIDS.


What is the number of women living What is the number of women living with HIV/AIDS in your country?with HIV/AIDS in your country?


II The rapidity of the spread of HIV/AIDS II The rapidity of the spread of HIV/AIDS among women can be slowed only if changes among women can be slowed only if changes are brought in the sexual behaviour of men.are brought in the sexual behaviour of men.

A A behaviour study commissioned by USAID behaviour study commissioned by USAID in India shows that 82% of the male STI in India shows that 82% of the male STI patients had sexual intercourse with multiple patients had sexual intercourse with multiple partners within 12 months and only 12 percent partners within 12 months and only 12 percent had used a condom.had used a condom.


A study of female youth in South Africa A study of female youth in South Africa showed that 71% of the girls had experienced showed that 71% of the girls had experienced sex against their will.sex against their will.


III III feminized poverty and women’s limited feminized poverty and women’s limited voice in decision-makingvoice in decision-making

Poverty pushes some women into sex industry.Poverty pushes some women into sex industry. Young girls are particularly vulnerable and Young girls are particularly vulnerable and

they often have no power to insist on safer sex.they often have no power to insist on safer sex.


Lack of education for girls results in low Lack of education for girls results in low exposure to HIV/AIDS education messages exposure to HIV/AIDS education messages due to low literacy rate. due to low literacy rate.

The burden of care for sick family members The burden of care for sick family members falls on women in the family.falls on women in the family.

GBV and HIV/AIDSGBV and HIV/AIDS

What is the link between HIV/AIDS What is the link between HIV/AIDS and GBV?and GBV?


Low power in relationship and intimate partner Low power in relationship and intimate partner violence increase the risk of HIV infection violence increase the risk of HIV infection incident.incident.

Forced sex is correlated to HIV risk.Forced sex is correlated to HIV risk. Survivors of violence tend to engage in Survivors of violence tend to engage in

behaviors that put their health at risk.behaviors that put their health at risk. Proposing condom use may increase women’s Proposing condom use may increase women’s

risk of violence.risk of violence. Disclosing HIV status may increase risk of Disclosing HIV status may increase risk of

violence and abuse.violence and abuse.


Why should Health/HIVproject address GBV?


GBV is a major cause of death and disability GBV is a major cause of death and disability among women.among women.

Health project can be more effective if it Health project can be more effective if it recognizes reproductive health (RH) recognizes reproductive health (RH) implications of GBV.implications of GBV.

Health providers who do not ask about gender-Health providers who do not ask about gender-based violence may misdiagnose survivors or based violence may misdiagnose survivors or offer inappropriate care.offer inappropriate care.


Providers may be the first point of contact for Providers may be the first point of contact for women.women.

Providers can assist women, rather than Providers can assist women, rather than inadvertently putting women at further risk.inadvertently putting women at further risk.

Healthcare organizations can raise awareness Healthcare organizations can raise awareness of GBV as a public health problem.of GBV as a public health problem.


Use a “systems approach,” which entails:Use a “systems approach,” which entails:

An institutional commitment to GBVAn institutional commitment to GBV Sexual harassment policiesSexual harassment policies Patient privacy and confidentialityPatient privacy and confidentiality


Awareness of local GBV lawsAwareness of local GBV laws Ongoing training and support for staffOngoing training and support for staff Referral networks to link survivors to legal Referral networks to link survivors to legal

aid, counselling, shelters, etc.aid, counselling, shelters, etc.


Protocols for the care of survivors.Protocols for the care of survivors. Emergency supplies such as STI prophylaxis, Emergency supplies such as STI prophylaxis,

post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and emergency contraception (EC), where emergency contraception (EC), where supported by the government.supported by the government.


Educational materials on GBV for clientsEducational materials on GBV for clients Data collection systemsData collection systems Monitoring and evaluation of quality of careMonitoring and evaluation of quality of care


How can Health/HIV project address How can Health/HIV project address GBV?GBV?


Support efforts to fully integrate attention Support efforts to fully integrate attention to GBV within existing health programs, to GBV within existing health programs, such as such as

Long-term efforts to sensitize and train health Long-term efforts to sensitize and train health professionals about GBV; professionals about GBV;

““Routine screening” or “routine enquiry” Routine screening” or “routine enquiry” policies ONLY when programs have basic policies ONLY when programs have basic protections for women; andprotections for women; and


Participation of healthcare organizations in Participation of healthcare organizations in broader prevention efforts, referral networks, broader prevention efforts, referral networks, advocacy campaigns.advocacy campaigns.

Do not duplicate services that already exist.Do not duplicate services that already exist. Health programs should try to identify the Health programs should try to identify the

most economically feasible, cost-effective, and most economically feasible, cost-effective, and sustainable social services to provide.sustainable social services to provide.


Why should Health Policy project address Why should Health Policy project address GBV?GBV?


Assist in drafting policies and approaches for Assist in drafting policies and approaches for the health service response to GBV.the health service response to GBV.

Reframe the policy debate about GBV as a Reframe the policy debate about GBV as a public health and human rights issue.public health and human rights issue.

Produce and use research on magnitude of Produce and use research on magnitude of GBV to convince policymakers that GBV to convince policymakers that

They should address GBV; and They should address GBV; and Gaps exist in the legal and civil codes.Gaps exist in the legal and civil codes.


Standardize health sector policies and Standardize health sector policies and appropriate GBV interventions at the appropriate GBV interventions at the institutional level.institutional level.


How can Health Policy project address How can Health Policy project address GBV?GBV?


Research and dissemination of GBV findingsResearch and dissemination of GBV findings Public and private coalitions that design and Public and private coalitions that design and

implement GBV public policy approachesimplement GBV public policy approaches Efforts to educate key groups and broader Efforts to educate key groups and broader

population about GBV as a public health population about GBV as a public health problem and the linkage to HIV/AIDSproblem and the linkage to HIV/AIDS


Why is it important working with Why is it important working with Youth in addressing GBV and Youth in addressing GBV and

HIV/AIDS?HIV/AIDS?


Substantial proportions of girls and young Substantial proportions of girls and young women experience sexual violence around the women experience sexual violence around the world.world.

Violence by intimate partners often begins Violence by intimate partners often begins within the first years of dating and marriage.within the first years of dating and marriage.

Sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence Sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence has been linked to numerous poor health has been linked to numerous poor health consequences.consequences.


Youth sexual activity is not always voluntary Youth sexual activity is not always voluntary or consensual.or consensual.

Youth programs are an ideal opportunity to Youth programs are an ideal opportunity to further GBV prevention because attitudes further GBV prevention because attitudes gender and violence are still forming.gender and violence are still forming.


How can Youth work address GBV and How can Youth work address GBV and HIV/AIDS?HIV/AIDS?


Require all reproductive health programming Require all reproductive health programming for youth to address sexual coercion and abusefor youth to address sexual coercion and abuse

Support initiatives that improve family, peer, Support initiatives that improve family, peer, and community environments, such asand community environments, such as

Efforts to promote gender-equitable norms and Efforts to promote gender-equitable norms and non-violence among young mennon-violence among young men


Efforts to empower girls.Efforts to empower girls. Efforts to improve the institutional response to Efforts to improve the institutional response to

young survivors of GBV.young survivors of GBV. Efforts to increase safety of girls and young Efforts to increase safety of girls and young

women in educational settings.women in educational settings.

THANK YOU THANK YOU

Documents

Part 2 Gender and HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS IS A GENDER ISSUE BECAUSE: I Although HIV effects both men and women, women are more vulnerable because of biological,