Women's Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS

This book deals with the factors and circumstances that have added to young women's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in India. Besides the biological, economic, and socio-cultural factors, this is primarily due to the behaviors of these women's husbands/partners. The key points from the primary data, collected from five cross-cultural settings in India, show the need to enhance women's knowledge, their capacity building, access to STI/HIV services, as well as family and community level support as the major facilitating factors to reduce their vulnerability. The strategies identified need to be translated into programs, when not only the female-male ratio of HIV infection is increasing, but nearly half of the new HIV infections are taking place among people below age 25. The major findings in the book will be useful for researchers, policy makers, and other program personnel working in South Asian countries on gender and HIV/AIDS issues.