HIV/AIDS: Africa

Since 1985, the proportion of women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) globally has risen from 35 percent to 50 percent, with the numbers of women being infected with HIV increasing substantially in every global region. In 2008, women made up half of all people living with HIV. Of the 15.7 million women living with HIV globally, 76 percent [Page 696]live in sub-Saharan Africa. The high levels of HIV infection among women in sub-Saharan Africa has serious implications for the welfare of families, as women are the main caregivers and grow most of the subsistence crops that contribute to the food security of households and communities. The high levels of female HIV infection expose the vulnerability of women to this deadly disease and indicate ...