How HIV affects women

Research shows that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is most prevalent in females and the findings leave many people with more questions than answers.

Global statistics reveal HIV is most prevalent among women compared to their male counterparts and HIV-related deaths are higher in females than men.

According to the latest 2011 HIV Global Report, at least 34 million people are living with HIV and of these 30,7 million are adults while 3,3 million are children.

The report further states that 16,7 million of the infected adult population are women and the remainder constitutes men.

The trend is even higher in Zimbabwe where medical experts have pointed out several contributory factors.

The experts note that lack of preventative measures, cultural, social, and economic factors, among others, are contributing to the higher prevalence rate among local women.

According to the latest Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), HIV prevalence by gender is 6 percent more in women than in men.

"The percentage prevalence of HIV in both males and females aged between 15 and 49 from 2005 to 2006 shows that 21 percent were women and 15 percent were men. Between 2010 and 2011 women accounted for 18 percent while men were 12 percent," reads part of the ZDHS.

The document stated that female reproductive organs had higher chances of intercepting the virus during sexual intercourse.

In an interview, the director of HIV, Aids and TB unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Owen Mugurungi, said the female genital tract was vulnerable to HIV infection.

"During unprotected sex, the semen has a higher viral load than vaginal fluids and after the act, the disposed semen stays longer in the female genital tract, which increases the chances of HIV transmission," said Dr Mugurungi.

"Unlike men who are only exposed to HIV transmission during the act, women's risks are prolonged as transmission can occur during and after sex."

Dr Mugurungi said the reproductive issues also contribute to the females being exposed to higher risks of transmitting the virus.

Scientifically, menstruating and pregnant women have high chances of HIV transmission because their immunity is reduced during these periods.

Women often suffer cuts in the genital tract during sexual intercourse and this exposes them to HIV infection when they engage in unprotected sex with an infected partner.

"Some women apply herbs to tighten their organs in order to satisfy their husbands because they believe that marriage is bonded more by sexual intercourse for it to last longer," said Mr Amon Mpofu, the director of monitoring and evaluation in the National Aids Council.

"This increases the dryness of the female reproductive organs and bruising and tearing of the walls of the organs in both females and males. Such cuts can lead to transmission of the virus.

"Most societies in the country are patriarchal and men usually decide on the sex, whether it should be protected or not, especially in married couples,"added Mr Mpofu.

Research shows that forced sex is quite common in marriage and such cases are rarely reported as the women fear losing their husbands.

According to the ZDHS, about three in four of infected teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 are girls and several factors have been attributed to the high numbers.

Mr Mpofu said many young girls were indulging in sexual activities through abuse by family members and at times they are being forced to give elderly men sexual favours in return for material benefit.

"In some societies there are people who are into rituals and some men sleep with virgins or younger girls as part of the cleansing ceremonies that they part take in," he said.

"The 'sugar daddy' syndrome, especially in poverty-stricken areas, has also put most young women at risk.

Most of these girls are unaware of the reality of sex thus they indulge in unprotected sex because of desperation."

HIV and Aids experts say poverty leads females into prostitution and the behaviour has also contributed to the high HIV prevalence in women.

According to the ZDHS, Matabeleland South Province has the highest prevalence of HIV in women of about 22,7 compared to other provinces that range from 15 to 20 percent.

The high prevalence rate in Matabeleland South is attributed to an increase in illegal commercial sex workers who operate along the borders with Botswana and South Africa.

Preventative measures remain a challenge to women who, in most cases, fail to negotiate for the use of protected sexual intercourse.

On the other hand, most women say the female condoms are uncomfortable and many of them lack knowledge on how to use them.