The Gender Gap: Why Women are More Vulnerable to STDs/STIs/HIV Infection
Female
are naturally more susceptible to STDs/STIs/HIV infection than male. The
"Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation" found that male-to-female
transmission appears to be 2-4 times more effective than female-to-male
transmission, in part because semen contains a much higher concentration of STDs
than vaginal fluid. Young girls are mostly vulnerable. Their immature cervix
and low production of vaginal mucus is less of a barrier to STDs infection.
Developing
and poor countries have now suffered huge losses as a result of the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It is difficult to say exactly how many lakhs of
lives were lost in these regions in the 80s and 90s. More than 90 percent of
infections were in poor and developing countries, and the virus had spread
across most regions. In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where the infection
has been endemic for more than a decade, drug discovery and increased awareness
have led to rapid reductions in death and infection rates. But other diseases
including STDs are going on day by day due to lack of awareness and lack of
treatment.
The
prevalence of STD infections and AIDS was high in the African continent.
Although sub-Saharan Africa was the area with the greatest growth, But now
perhaps the fastest growing of all in South Southeast Asia, other sexually
transmitted diseases including STDs, are likely to increase among sexually
active all profession.
Economic,
gender discrimination, the imbalance of social and physical rights between men
and women increases the lack of security in sexual relations and the
difficulties that many women have in negotiating security. Not going to the
doctor for fear of shame, taking treatment late. It also causes various
complications. This can have serious consequences, from stigma to fear of
violence or rejection.
The
actual gap between men and women is widening due to age differences. Women
naturally marry or have sex with older men who have been sexually active longer
and are more likely to become infected. Men also started looking for younger
sex partners, believing that these girls would not get STDs.
Most
infections occur in young and sexually active adults. Women are infected an
average of 5-10 years earlier than men. Women are also at higher risk of
infection, with rates ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 times higher in women than in
men. Most adults are economically active and have many dependents. Serious
social and economic problems arise: orphans, changes in dependent
relationships, loss of skilled and unskilled work.
Female
and teen girls are vulnerable to forced sex, including rape and other sexual
abuse - within and outside the family - and to forced sex work. Any
nonconsensual or forced sex can increase the risk of STDs infection, especially
since men are less likely to use condoms in such situations.
Subordination
in education, working life, social and legal status makes women more vulnerable
to sexually transmitted diseases STDs. Women with limited access to finance are
more likely to be financially dependent on men, end up in the subsistence
sector or commercial sex work.
Source
and References:
UNCDF-UN Capital Development Fund
UNDP-United Nations Development Programme
WHO- World Health Organization
CDC-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
USAID- United
States Agency for International Development
Abbreviation:
STDs-sexually transmitted diseases
STI- sexually transmitted infection
HIV- Human immunodeficiency virus
AIDS- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
CSWs- Commercial Sex Workers
RSWs- Residential Sex Workers
SSWs-Street Sex Worker
HSWs-Hotel Sex Workers
MSWs-Mobile Sex Workers
IDUs-injecting drug users
FSWs-female sex workers
MSM-Men Who Have Sex with Men
