HIV/AIDS: What social and cultural factors make women more vulnerable?


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	Global Health Reporting What social and cultural factors make women more vulnerable? Social and cultural norms contribute to the unequal status of women in societies, which facilitates the spread of diseases such as HIV. In their sexual relationships, women are often denied the power to make decisions that may lower their risk of HIV infection. Social norms may restrict women's ability to negotiate sex with a condom, demand fidelity in a relationship or seek information about protection, treatment or health care. The unequal power balance between men and women puts women at a greater risk of HIV infection. In some societies, social norms may dictate that women remain monogamous, while men may be allowed and even encouraged to engage in sex with multiple partners. Overview Facts at a Glance FAQ Libraries Organizations

What factors make women more vulnerable to HIV infection?

A combination of biological, social, cultural and economic factors contribute to women's increased vulnerability. In particular, gender inequalities prevent women from asserting power over their own lives and controlling the circumstances that increase their vulnerability to infection. Women are also physiologically more susceptible to becoming infected with HIV than men.

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