HIV acquisition higher in young Ugandan women than in young men

A recent study of HIV infection in Uganda revealed that young women are much more likely than young men to become infected with the AIDS virus.  Although previous studies have documented the higher proportion of young women than young men in sub-Saharan Africa who are HIV-infected, this study is one of the first that looked specifically at factors contributing to acquisition of the virus.  The published study reports that “Among young women, HIV prevalence in 2011 was 2.8% in 15-19 year olds and 6.3% in 20-24 years olds. HIV prevalence was 1.1% in men 15-19 years old and 3.2% in men 20-24 years old.”  The study found that gender disparity was greatest in 15-19 year olds, with the incidence in women more than 4 times greater than in men.  Interestingly, among young women who were formerly married, there was an increased risk of HIV acquisition compared to currently married women, in which the risk was decreased.  Being a student was also a factor contributing to decreased risk.  Gender disparities decreased with increasing age, as HIV risk increased as men got older but not with increasing age in women.  The article cites a recent qualitative study of young women in the same region of Uganda, which revealed that previously married women are more likely than their married or never married counterparts to have had multiple partnerships, to communicate poorly about HIV with sexual partners, to have experienced domestic violence and infidelity, to experience loss of family financial and social support, and to rely on partners for financial support.

Uganda

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The abstract can be found here. The full article can be found here.

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HIV acquisition higher in young Ugandan women than in young men — 1 Comment

  1. The full article is paywalled, which is a shame because the abstract looks pretty interesting.

    Its not just a prevalence study but a true incidence study with a ten year cohort follow up.

    I would want to look at the stats before I jumped to causal conclusions though.

    That risk reduction for students may just be a socio-economic indicator. Putting more girls through school may not help.

    And it seems kind of weird that being married reduces risk for women by nearly 50% but having been married increases risk for men by nearly 400%.

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