HIV/AIDS- Sexual violence spiraling infections among women
Sep 13, 2009
PAULA goes to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Unit for antiretrovial treatment every month. She is only 35. But the folds on her skin tell a story of a 50-year-old in pain. “I hate men with a passion,†she says.
By A. Agiresaasi
PAULA goes to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Unit for antiretrovial treatment every month. She is only 35. But the folds on her skin tell a story of a 50-year-old in pain. “I hate men with a passion,†she says.
“My husband and I had already separated by the time I learnt that I had acquired HIV. After a while, he came home under the pretext of seeing his children and raped me. That is why I am in this predicament,†she says.
Paula’s story is not unique. Women are two to four times more susceptible to HIV infection than men. In sub-Saharan Africa, three women for every man get infected.
According to the United Nations Development Fund for Women, violence against women and girls is escalating. Women are often denied basic human rights, including access to education, healthcare and safe sex, economic and physical security.
The injuries that result from violent and coerced sex offer a channel for HIV transmission.
Gender based violence and HIV
Research shows a direct link between gender-based violence and HIV infection, particularly in young women. Adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa experience sexual violence on a regular basis.
According to a 2006 survey by the World Health Organisation, domestic violence in countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Peru, is widespread.
In South Africa, about one-third of all girls surveyed say their first sexual experience was forced and nearly three-quarters had sex against their will.
These findings are supported by studies carried out in Rwanda and Tanzania that indicate that the risk of HIV among women who are victims of gender-based violence is up to three times higher compared to women who have not been subjected to violent behaviour.
Women, especially the young ones, are not in position to demand that their partners use condoms and have less access to health and social services.
Powerlessness of women
A recent study found that many women were afraid to access HIV/AIDS services for of fear being physically assaulted or threatened by their husbands or partners.
Uganda is an example of a country that successfully brought the AIDS pandemic under control, yet married women find themselves on the frontline of the fight against HIV.
The reason is because women in polygamous relationships, which increases the risk of HIV exposure. Women in these relationships are more likely to have unprotected sex, despite the heightened risk of HIV infection.
Errant husbands and faithful wives
According to Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi, the in-charge of mental healthcare at the health ministry, there is a high rate of infection amongst faithful wives married because of errant husbands.
Also the culture of silence and stigma has sprung up among people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. Nearly 60% of adolescent girls surveyed were afraid to discuss the use of condoms with their partners for fear of violence.
The risk of sexual and gender-based violence against women is increased in emergencies, in particular during armed conflicts. In some situations, women and girls submit to sexual abuse by gatekeepers in order to obtain food and other basic necessities.
Sometimes rape is used to brutalise and humiliate women and girls, as a weapon of war and political power.
The Police in Uganda, are co-ordinating with the Northern Uganda Malaria, AIDS and Tuberculosis programme to help victims of domestic violence.
The programme is supported by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to address sexual and gender-based violence.
War and violence, unhealthy and poor living conditions and limited access to safe drinking water, food and shelter has resulted in psychological trauma and a high incidence of alcohol and drug abuse.
These factors have deeply fractured relationships. This is the reason why there are high rates of violence especially sexual and gender-based violence in northern Uganda.
With a population of about one million Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS, this problem must be addressed.
Both women and men need to stop accepting and transmitting HIV/AIDS to their children. Gender norms reinforce male dominance and women’s subordination.
Transmission of HIV to children
Monogamous women who are infected by their spouses need to recognise that HIV transmission is a form of violence and a breach of their marriage contracts, which are supposed to protect them.
There is a dire need to address HIV infection resulting from domestic and sexual violence, but also violence in response to women’s voluntary or involuntary disclosure of their positive HIV status.
But some women become positive because they, like men, choose to have extramarital relations.
We must develop solutions by combining knowledge and wisdom gained in the fields of sexual rights, human rights, violence against women and HIV prevention. This will require willingness to acknowledge and work on various stigmatised issues.
The writer is a SPH-CDC HIV/AIDS fellow at parliament
PAULA goes to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Unit for antiretrovial treatment every month. She is only 35. But the folds on her skin tell a story of a 50-year-old in pain. “I hate men with a passion,†she says.
“My husband and I had already separated by the time I learnt that I had acquired HIV. After a while, he came home under the pretext of seeing his children and raped me. That is why I am in this predicament,†she says.
Paula’s story is not unique. Women are two to four times more susceptible to HIV infection than men. In sub-Saharan Africa, three women for every man get infected.
According to the United Nations Development Fund for Women, violence against women and girls is escalating. Women are often denied basic human rights, including access to education, healthcare and safe sex, economic and physical security.
The injuries that result from violent and coerced sex offer a channel for HIV transmission.
Gender based violence and HIV
Research shows a direct link between gender-based violence and HIV infection, particularly in young women. Adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa experience sexual violence on a regular basis.
According to a 2006 survey by the World Health Organisation, domestic violence in countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Peru, is widespread.
In South Africa, about one-third of all girls surveyed say their first sexual experience was forced and nearly three-quarters had sex against their will.
These findings are supported by studies carried out in Rwanda and Tanzania that indicate that the risk of HIV among women who are victims of gender-based violence is up to three times higher compared to women who have not been subjected to violent behaviour.
Women, especially the young ones, are not in position to demand that their partners use condoms and have less access to health and social services.
Powerlessness of women
A recent study found that many women were afraid to access HIV/AIDS services for of fear being physically assaulted or threatened by their husbands or partners.
Uganda is an example of a country that successfully brought the AIDS pandemic under control, yet married women find themselves on the frontline of the fight against HIV.
The reason is because women in polygamous relationships, which increases the risk of HIV exposure. Women in these relationships are more likely to have unprotected sex, despite the heightened risk of HIV infection.
Errant husbands and faithful wives
According to Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi, the in-charge of mental healthcare at the health ministry, there is a high rate of infection amongst faithful wives married because of errant husbands.
Also the culture of silence and stigma has sprung up among people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. Nearly 60% of adolescent girls surveyed were afraid to discuss the use of condoms with their partners for fear of violence.
The risk of sexual and gender-based violence against women is increased in emergencies, in particular during armed conflicts. In some situations, women and girls submit to sexual abuse by gatekeepers in order to obtain food and other basic necessities.
Sometimes rape is used to brutalise and humiliate women and girls, as a weapon of war and political power.
The Police in Uganda, are co-ordinating with the Northern Uganda Malaria, AIDS and Tuberculosis programme to help victims of domestic violence.
The programme is supported by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to address sexual and gender-based violence.
War and violence, unhealthy and poor living conditions and limited access to safe drinking water, food and shelter has resulted in psychological trauma and a high incidence of alcohol and drug abuse.
These factors have deeply fractured relationships. This is the reason why there are high rates of violence especially sexual and gender-based violence in northern Uganda.
With a population of about one million Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS, this problem must be addressed.
Both women and men need to stop accepting and transmitting HIV/AIDS to their children. Gender norms reinforce male dominance and women’s subordination.
Transmission of HIV to children
Monogamous women who are infected by their spouses need to recognise that HIV transmission is a form of violence and a breach of their marriage contracts, which are supposed to protect them.
There is a dire need to address HIV infection resulting from domestic and sexual violence, but also violence in response to women’s voluntary or involuntary disclosure of their positive HIV status.
But some women become positive because they, like men, choose to have extramarital relations.
We must develop solutions by combining knowledge and wisdom gained in the fields of sexual rights, human rights, violence against women and HIV prevention. This will require willingness to acknowledge and work on various stigmatised issues.
The writer is a SPH-CDC HIV/AIDS fellow at parliament