WHY WOMEN IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ACQUIRING

HIV THAN MEN IN THE SAME REGION

The Face of HIV: Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

How big is it?

Global Population Distribution

Sub-Saharan AfricaRest of the world

World Bank population statistics

Global Distribution of HIV

Sub-Saharan Africa

Rest of the World

Global HIV Prevalence

From UNAIDS report 2010

Global Distribution of HIV

Global Distribution of Doctors

Between the Genders

HIV Prevalence Between Men and Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

WomenMen

UNAIDS report 2010

Why Women?

Socio-economic, Cultural, Political Factors

• Economic Disempowerment: A Social Norm

• Education: Out of Girls Reach

• Conflict: A Detriment to Women’s Health

Biological and Environmental Factors

• Semen: An Enhancer of Virus Infection

• Malaria: An Environmental Hazard to Pregnant women

Economic Disempowerment

42% of girls are subject to child marriage

80% of those living below poverty are women

Women often denied inheritance and

property rights

Lack of Education

Graphic from CAMFED

Providing Girls with Education

Photo and Graphic from CAMFED.org

Conflict Spreads HIV

By destroying healthcare infrastructures

By limiting or denying international humanitarian interventions

By disrupting health information systems, preventive care, and

treatment services

Because sexual interaction between civilians and combatants in

increased dramatically during conflict

Rape has been used as a weapon of war to intentionally infect the

opposition, as in Rwanda

Global Health in Times of ViolenceUnited Nations Population Fund &

Conflict in Africa

Conflict Death Tolls Between 1990 and 2007

Virgil Hawkins: ‘Stealth Conflicts; How the World’s Worst Violence Is Ignored’

Conflict in Africa

Biological Factor: SDVI

Cell: Semen-Derived Amyloid Fibrils Drastically Enhance HIV Infection

Environmental Factor: Malaria

Wikipedia : World Health Organization Data

Environmental Factors: Malaria

Photo from NetsForLife.org

In Conclusion: Hope