Faces of Aids: Gender Inequality and Hiv/Aids

Running Head Face of help Gender variety and human immunodeficiency virus/ assist 1 Face of help Gender Inequality and human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS Introduction The human immunodeficiency virus (human immunodeficiency virus), which eventually develops into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a devastating unsoundness that has reached pandemic levels, bear on all populations worldwide. Since the first reported case of human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS in the early 1980s, HIV/AIDS has get under ones skin one of the leading causes of mortality across the globe in the history of mankind (U. S. orbiculate wellness Policy USGHP, 2010). While HIV/AIDS has contributed signifi shtuptly to the global nub of disease amongst those living with HIV/AIDS, it has had devastating impacts on women and girls. Amid 40 million people living with HIVAIDS globally, virtually half of them are women (Quinn & Overbaugh, 2005). In addition, new infection rates have been escalating dramatic ally worldwide, with most centralized in growing countries (The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS GCWA, n. d. ).In sub-Saharan Africa, women account for almost 60% of all infected adults, small-arm girls account for approximately 75% of all infected young people between ages of 15 and 24 (Brijnath, 2007 Quinn & Overbaugh, 2005). In developing countries such as sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of women infected with HIV/AIDS is excessively on the rise, for every ten men infected with HIV/AIDS, 13 women are diagnosed HIV-positive (Brijnath, 2007). In create countries such as United States, the incidence of HIV/AIDS had increased by 15% compared with 1% that of men from 1999 to 2003 (Quinn & Overbaugh, 2005).These alarming statistics imply an ominous future for women and girls affected by the disease feminisation of HIV/AIDS. This paper will highlight the burden of disease implications on sex activity inequality in developing nations. Running Head Face of AIDS Gender Inequalit y and HIV/AIDS 2 feminisation of HIV/AIDS When HIV/AIDS cases were first reported, it was viewed that HIV/AIDS was a disease amongst butch men, and the main modes of transmission were through with(predicate) men who have enkindleual urge with men (MSM).Presently, however, 80% of infections were contracted through heterosexual sex while 19% were through drug injections (Quinn & Overbaugh, 2005). It is evident that women and girls are bearing a hefty portion of the burden of HIV/AIDS. Women and girls are socially, physically, and biologically more vulnerable to HIV/ help transmissions and stigma associated with the disease. On the societal level, women in developing countries are perceived as being inferior, which is the al-Qaida cause of gender profiling and stigma towards this group (Quinn & Overbaugh, 2005).The society have set the stage for women and girls to be more susceptible to means for HIV/AIDS transmission furthermore infringing on their freedom of choice. due to cult ural structure and gender norms, women and girls are deprived of education, thus they grow to be economically hooklike on men. This limits their autonomy to refuse sexual liaisons with their intimate partner. For instance, the practice of safe sex through arctic usage is mainly the males choices, while women have restricted negotiation power (Mulligan, 2006). The minority status of women in developing countries thus exposes them to high rates of HIV/AIDS infections.Gender norms impacts of HIV/AIDS are clear-sighted and even more harmful towards women and girls because they face stigmatization and discrimination on a greater order of magnitude than men. An ethnographic study conducted by Carr et al. (2004) reported that women were more concerned about the psychosocial insinuations affiliated with being HIV-positive, alternatively Running Head Face of AIDS Gender Inequality and HIV/AIDS 3 than the uncomely health outcomes of the disease. The fear of stigmatization accompanying di sclosure of HIV-positive status has hindered women from reaching out for appropriate and indispensable medical and psychic support. trade name and discrimination have shown to have negative effects on womens mental and physical wellbeing because they suffer from social isolation and low self-esteem (Carr & Gramling, 2004). This has not only resulted in the under-representation of HIV-positive women, it has also created barriers for women to attain better health (Carr & Gramling, 2004). Being physically inferior to men, women are prone to be coerced and being victims of sexual violence. These factors contribute to escalating infection rates because there is an increasing likelihood for survival sex work (Brijnath, 2007).Attributable to poverty and lack of education, women resolve to prostitution for survival. The combination of lack of knowledge regarding practices of safe sex and frequent encounters of sexual partners further enhance women and girls vulnerabilities to contracting the disease. Sexual violence is also a universal theme among women living with HIV/AIDS (Rountree & Mulraney, 2008). Moreover, it has also been suggested that women are biologically more susceptible to disease progression of HIV/AIDS when taking hormonal contraceptives (Quinn & Overbaugh, 2005).The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS The feminization of HIV/AIDS is evident, and requires serious attention. Gender inequality in developing countries has placed significant burden of disease on women, and has been the propelling force for feminization of HIV/AIDS pandemic. In recognizing and fully comprehending the hardness of this pandemic, The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS (GCWA) has taken initiative towards fighting for a brighter future for women on a national level. Running Head Face of AIDS Gender Inequality and HIV/AIDS 4GCWA is an UNAIDS collaborative effort, which involves diverse networks of organizations and political bodies to alleviate this burden of disease on women a nd girls (GCWA, n. d. ). The objectives of GCWA are to provide obligatory medical attention to those in need, raising awareness, mitigate violence against women, and promote gender equality. GCWA tackles issues concerned with gender inequality and the adverse impacts it has had on women. Public Health Intervention Recommendation Gender inequality and lower status are the undertow that has deteriorated the feminization trend of HIV/AIDS.Public health initiatives should focus on empowering women and improving their independence. This can be achieved through specialized support systems that educate and raise public awareness of the roots and gloom of the situations. Furthermore, this should be complemented with employment referencing and acquisition support programs to enrich their economic autonomy. Conclusion HIV/AIDS has become a feminizing pandemic, resulting in disproportionate burden of disease on women and girls. Traditional subordination of women as minorities has exacerbate d the bad weather of the issues.Global Coalition on Women and AIDs is a comprehensive initiative that targets the root of this problem. Future initiatives for decreasing this hoo-ha of gender inequality should emphasize on empowering women and promoting their autonomy. Running Head Face of AIDS Gender Inequality and HIV/AIDS 5 References Brijnath, B. (2007). Its about time Engendering AIDS in Africa. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 9(4), 371-386. Carr, R. L. , & Gramling, L. F. (2004). Stigma A health barrier for women with HIV/AIDS. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 15(5), 30-39. Mulligan, S. (2006). Women and HIV/AIDS.The Furrow, 57(4), 232-238. Quinn, T. C. , & Overbaugh, J. (2005). HIV/AIDS in women An expanding epidemic. Womens Health, 308, 1582-1583. Rountree, M. A. , & Mulraney, M. (2008). HIV/AIDS risk reduction intervention for women who have go through intimate partner violence. Clinical Social Work Journal, 38, 207-216. The Global Coalition on Women and A IDS. (n. d. ). About GCWA. Retrieved meet 25, 2011, from http//www. womenandaids. net/about-gcwa. aspx U. S. Global Health Policy. (2010). AIDS deaths (adults and children) 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2011, from http//www. globalhealthfacts. org/topic. jsp? i=7