Women are more than twice as likely to acquire HIV from an infected partner during unprotected sexual intercourse as men. A combination of biological, social and economic factors contribute to young women and girls’ vulnerability to HIV infection.
- Young women are among the most vulnerable to HIV infection because their genital tracts have less mature tissue which may be more easily torn.
- Young women are often victims of coercive or forced sex. Forced sex can contribute to HIV transmission due to tears resulting from the use of force.
- Economic and social dependence on men limits the power of women to refuse sex or negotiate the use of condoms.
- Many young women lack information about sex and reproductive health and disease prevention including HIV prevention.
- Young women may also lack access to health care and education.
- Young women are often less able to negotiate for safer sex due to reasons such as their lower status, economic dependence, fear of violence and low self-esteem.
- Young women’s limited economic opportunities and relative powerlessness may force them into survival sex.
- Young women are increasingly being targeted for sex by older men seeking safer sex partners and also who erroneously believe that a man infected with HIV/AIDS will get rid of the disease by having sex with a virgin.
Being young has got a lot of connection to their physical and psychological makeup.
Thanks so much for raising such a good and important issue.
Being young has got a lot of connection to their physical and psychological makeup.
Young ladies are physically not ready to have sex which puts them in a vulnerable situation.
Many young ladies may not be in position to get the economic stand they need meaning that they will have to get the money from somewhere which source may be a man who wishes to be paid back in terms of sex.
Many men do practice coarsive sex which leaves their partners bruised and wounded exposing them (in case young)to many STI’s.
The natural make up of women is such that theu have a bowl like facility which will keep whateve has been deposited there by a man for some time befor it is disposd of. I means they will facilitate the STI’s very well hence a danger to life.
Women are less assertive in as far as negotiating for favourable safe sex is concerned. They are forced to accept dangerous sex like unprotected sex.
Finally it has been found out that young ladies are a target by very many old men who may have been infected already making the young ladies more prone to STI’s that to youngmen.