QUICK FACTS - US
• In 2004, HIV infection was the leading cause of death for black women aged 25-34 years
• In 2004, HIV infection was the 5th leading cause of death for all women aged 35-44 years
• High-risk heterosexual contact is the source of 80% of newly diagnosed infections
• Women are slightly less likely than men to receive a prescription for the most effective treatments for HIV infection
• About 26% of new HIV diagnoses are female
• In 1992, women made up only 14% of people living with AIDS, but by 2005, this proportion was 23%
• African American and Hispanic women together represent 24% of US women, but account for 82% of total AIDS diagnoses for women
RISK FACTORS FOR WOMEN
• Younger age: HIV/AIDS diagnoses highest for women aged 15-39
• Lack of recognition of partner’s risk factors: In one study, 34% of black men who had sex with men reported to also have sex with women, but only 6% of black women knew about their partners’ bisexual activity
• Relationship dynamics: Women may not insist on using a condom for fear of physical abuse
• Biological vulnerability and STDs – Women are significantly more likely to contract HIV infection during vaginal intercourse and STDs increases the chance of transmitting or acquiring HIV
• Socioeconomic Issues: Women in poverty are more likely to abuse substances, lack access to high-quality healthcare, exchange sex for money, and have a higher number of sexual partners
QUICK FACTS - GLOBAL
• HIV is the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age worldwide
• Women make up 50% of global epidemic
• 70% of women experience violence in their lifetime
• The risk of HIV among women who have experienced violence may be up to three times higher than among those who have not
• Women, fearing or experiencing violence are less likely to negotiate for safe sex, go for HIV testing, share their status, or seek treatment
• Forced sex increases risk of HIV transmission due to lacerations
• In some countries, it is common for men to have more than one sexual partner and to maintain sexual relations with much younger women, which can contribute to an infection rate for young women that is 3 times higher than young men
PERSONAL STORIES
Visit http://www.avert.org/living-with-hiv.htm to read about personal stories of individuals who've experienced gender violence in their lives
RAPE CRISIS IN SOUTH AFRICA: QUICK FACTS
• In South Africa, a woman is raped every minute
• South Africa has the world’s largest number of people living with HIV: 5.5 million out of a population of about 48 million
• In South Africa, there are estimated to be 1.7 million rapes each year, but only 54,000 rape survivors lay charges
• 75% of rape in South Africa is gang rape
• 50% of all court cases in South Africa are for rape
• The average age of children raped in South Africa is 3, 41-90% of rape is against children under 12, depending on the region
• 26% of doctors don’t think rape is a serious medical problem
• 40% of those raped are at risk of becoming HIV-positive
• Girls in South Africa are 6 times more likely to have HIV than boys
WHY?
• 1/4 of men admit to having raped someone
• 1/2 of these men admit to having raped more than once
• 62% of boys believe rape is not violence
• 1/3 of boys believe girls enjoy rape
• 75% of rape is gang rape – sometimes considered male bonding
• Some people believe sex with a virgin cures HIV
• Many people believe that sex with a child is safe
*Disclaimer: These statistics are not intended to present men as evil perpetrators of this crime. Rather, they illuminate how men have been socialized to believe that rape is acceptable.
WHAT IS BEING DONE?
• Sonnet Ehlers, a South African woman invented “Rape-aXe,” an anti-rape condom that hooks onto a man’s penis during penetration
• Media campaigns
• Public education aimed at men about rape and violence
• Public education about HIV/AIDS
• Providing HIV drugs to victims immediately after rape, in case of exposure
• NGOs working to implement policies related to sexual offences
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