UNAIDS report shows a slowdown in the global HIV epidemic

A new report released by UNAIDS indicates that the HIV epidemic is slowing or stabilising in many regions. Yet women and young people remain at particular risk of HIV infection. The report calls on governments to improve status of women.


Low knowledge about transmission and ways of prevention

The UNAIDS ’2008 Report on the global AIDS Epidemic’ shows that although young people are waiting longer before becoming sexually active, many still do not have accurate information on HIV transmission and how to prevent infection. The report points to a recent survey of 15-24 year olds that found only 38% of girls could correctly identify how HIV is transmitted compared to 40% of boys.

Supporting gender equality is crucial

To support the importance of women’s status in society, the report refers to a recent study that found that women who lack sufficient food are 70% less likely to perceive personal control in sexual relationships, 50% more likely to engage in intergenerational sex, 80% more likely to engage in survival sex, and 70% more likely to have unprotected sex than women receiving adequate nutrition.

The report refers to a meta-analysis of programmes to promote gender equality that found programmes that expressly aimed to transform gender roles through critical reflection, role play and other interactions were most likely to be effective in producing changes in targeted attitudes and behaviours.

Although women are at risk, the report reveals that more HIV-positive women than men are receiving treatment. This sex disparity is particularly pronounced in generalised epidemics, the report explains, a possible consequence of the fact that many HIV-positive women have two portals of entry for treatment: HIV treatment programmes and programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission. From 2005 to 2007 the percentage of HIV-positive pregnant women receiving antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission went up from 14% to 33%. In this same period, the number of new infections among children fell from 410,000 to 370,000.

For more information:

- UNAIDS 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic

- UNAIDS website on the report

- World YWCA

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Last modified on August 7 2008.