Title:
Exploring Factors Associated with Women’s Vulnerability to HIV Infection as Compared to Men in Tanzania
Authors:
Rwegasira, Mary Kassimbi
Year:
2013
PAGE:
xii, 49
Language:
En
Subject:
Governance & HIV and AIDS
Keywords:
HIV and AIDS, Gender Relations, Vulnerability, Decision Making, Tanzania
Abstract:
Back ground and problem: The HIV prevalence among women in Tanzania has been proportionately high from 2% and above in all age groups ascompared to men. At the age range of 15-24 years the prevalence among women is 4% while for men from the same age group is 1%. It is estimated that younger women of 15-24 years in Tanzania accounts for 45% of the new HIV infections in the general population of 15-49 years. Several social cultural, structural and programmatic challenges contribute to the high prevalence of HIV among women. Objectives and methods: This thesis explores the influencing factors and challenges contributing to women’s vulnerability to HIV in Tanzania. It also looks at current integrated gender empowerment and HIV programs and provides recommendations based on evidence from informed-interventions. Through literature review, the framework adapted from Eaton et al was used to organise and analyse factors increasing risks of HIV to women, and the gender empowerment model helped to analyse the current gender empowerment programs in Tanzania. Findings: In Tanzanian context, women’s lack of control over their sexual desire and fertility, economic dependence on men and lack of decision making of their personal lives are major factors putting women at high risk to HIV. However, all these factors have interactions with structural factors, specifically social, cultural, economic and programmatic factors which affect women’s strength to control their sexual desire and search for information in light of HIV infection. Conclusion and recommendation: Women’s vulnerability to HIV in Tanzania is the subject of complex unequal social, cultural and economic relations between men and women. Unequal relations to economic control results in unequal power relations in heterosexual partners and, the loser in terms of HIV risks is one who controls less; usually these are women. Gender transformative empowerment programs when coupled with economic support to women have shown better results in transforming gender relations. Gender empowerment in HIV programs should be informed by community based participatory gender and HIV situational analysis and CBOs/village committees and council should be among implementing stakeholders.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Department:
Development, Policy and Practice
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Eastern African
Training:
Master of Public Health / International Course in Health Development (MPH/ICHD)
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2013 Rwegasira
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
SfOMrM7Hyd_20161103113858942.pdf