WUNRN
HIV Prevention for
Girls & Young Women
Country Report Cards
These Report Cards are advocacy tools aimed at increasing and improving the
programmatic, policy and funding actions taken on HIV prevention for girls and
young women. Their key audiences are national, regional and international
policy and decision-makers, and service providers. They build on global policy
commitments, particularly those outlined in the Political
Declaration on HIV/AIDS from the 2 June 2006 High-Level Meeting, to follow
up on the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS).
The Report Cards summarise the current situation of HIV prevention strategies
and services for girls and young women ages 15-24 years in various countries.
They also provide recommendations for key stakeholders to enhance action on HIV
prevention strategies and services for girls and young women.
The report cards aim to provide summaries of HIV prevention for girls and young
women in the following countries:
Cambodia
Data indicates that HIV prevalence is decreasing among adults in general and
some specific groups of females, such as younger sex workers. However, the
epidemic is disproportionately affecting girls and young women.
Download full research dossier here (PDF) | Khmer
Cameroon
HIV and AIDS continues to remain a problem in Cameroon, particularly for young
women and girls. The most vulnerable groups are sex workers, truck drivers,
mobile populations and military personnel. Young people (15-29) account for one
third of those living with HIV and AIDS.
Download full research dossier here (PDF) | French
China
Although the estimated number of cases remains low, HIV is spreading rapidly in
China.While previously focused on vulnerable populations (such as sex workers
and injecting drug users), the epidemic is now spreading to the general
population and increasingly to females.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF) | Chinese
Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, the main mode of transmission of HIV is heterosexual
sex. Women live in a male-dominated culture and hold low economic status.
Strong political influence from the Catholic Church in issues of women's
reproductive health mean that access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health
services is not only limited but also discouraged by societal norms. Sex
education in schools does not reflect the reality of Dominican society.
Download full research dossier here (PDF)
Ethiopia
Young women, and girls in particular, are disproportionately affected by the
epidemic. Numerous obstacles contribute to the vulnerability of young women and
girls to HIV. These include cultural and religious factors, which can decrease
respect for women’s legal rights and access to key services.
Download full research dossier here (PDF)
India
India accounts for almost 1.4 million of the estimated 1.6 million young people
(ages 15 – 24) living with HIV in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Awareness
regarding HIV is lower among women, especially girls and young women in rural
and tribal areas.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF) | Hindi
Jamaica
Girls and young women in Jamaica benefit from relatively high levels of
literacy, levels of contraceptive use and age of sexual debut (about 17 years).
There is also quite low HIV prevalence (about 1% among 15-24 year olds), with
the majority of cases occurring among those aged 20-39 years.
Download
full research dossier here (316KB PDF)
Kenya
As a result of the increased scale up of HIV related services, the overall22
HIV prevalence rate has decreased in recent years. However, young women and
girls in Kenya remain particularly vulnerable to HIV, due to persistent gender
inequality and a lack of economic opportunities for young women and girls.
Download
full research dossier here (323KB PDF)
Malawi
Nearly half of Malawi's population is under 15 years old. In 2005, prevalence
among females aged 15-24 was four times that of males. The many factors that
increase girls' and young women's vulnerability include a lack of knowledge
about prevention methods (with only 57.3% stating that condoms can help prevent
HIV).
Download
full research dossier here (316KB PDF) | Chichewa
Mexico
Although the dominant mode of HIV transmission in Mexico is sex between
men, the trend seems to be changing in some Southern states of the
country (Tlaxcala, Puebla, Chiapas and Hidalgo)22 where transmission
through heterosexual sex is becoming increasingly common. This only
reinforces the vulnerability of young women and girls in rural areas.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF) | Spanish
Mozambique
Nearly half of Mozambique’s population is under 15, highlighting the need to
focus sexual and reproductive health efforts on adolescents and young people
who are becoming sexually active. Girls and young women are particularly
vulnerable. In 2005, HIV prevalence among females ages 15-24 was 10.7%,
compared to 3.6% among males.
Download full research dossier here (325KB PDF) | Portuguese
Nepal
Girls and young women continue to be particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in
Nepal. Recent ongoing political instability and civil unrest have further
exacerbated this. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the
numbers of mobile populations.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF)
Nigeria
Over 40% of Nigeria’s population is under 15 years old. Young people
account for over 30% of HIV cases, with prevalence nearly three times higher
among 15-24 year old females than males. The many factors that increase girls’
and young women’s vulnerability include early marriage, early sexual debut,
polygamous relationships and multiple partners.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF)
Papua
New Guinea
Within the context of Papua New Guinea’s highly male-dominated society, the
HIV
epidemic presents an extreme threat to girls and young women who are at very
high
risk of infection.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF)
Philippines
Half of the population of the Philippines are 21 years or under. An increasing
number of young people are engaging in premarital sex and often have multiple
partners, without using any form of protection. A third of women have their
first child by 21.
Download full research dossier here (345KB PDF) | Tagalog
Rwanda
Supportive legal and policy frameworks relating to HIV prevention are in place
and are relatively comprehensive, although the impressive policy rhetoric does
not always reflect the reality experienced by girls and young women.
Download full research dossier here (PDF)
Russia
In the Russian Federation, injecting drug users (IDUs) form the largest
vulnerable group in which the HIV epidemic is most highly concentrated. The HIV
prevalence rate among IDUs is 11.8 per cent nationally, but approaches 65 per
cent in some cities. Despite this, programmes and policies are failing to
address their needs.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF) | Russian
Serbia
Although Serbia has a relatively low rate of HIV prevalence which is largely
concentrated in the vulnerable and marginalised populations of injecting drug
users (IDUs), sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), prison inmates and
the military, the status of girls and young women is an important factor which
could contribute to an escalated prevalence among the general population.
Download
full research dossier here (298KB PDF) | Serbian
Sudan
Although Sudan is now experiencing a generalised HIV epidemic, as a result
of the country’s complex history and recent civil wars it is difficult to make
generalisations about the epidemic. Key data is still lacking and it is thought
that prevalence rates are higher than current statistics indicate, particularly
in the south of the country.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF) | Arabic
Swaziland
Swaziland has the highest rate of adult (15-49) HIV infection in the world,
with a recent figure at 25.8%.23 Heterosexual sex is the main transmission
route of HIV and the status of women has only recently been amended from that
of minors in the national constitution (2006).
Download full research dossier here (363KB PDF) | Siswati
Girls and young women in Thailand are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection
in a number of ways, particularly through sex work and the increasing
prevalence rates among married women.
Download full research dossier here (345KB PDF)
Uganda
Uganda is one of the few countries where HIV prevalence has arguably declined
over the last ten years. However, the rates are still high and young women
(15-24 years) – 14% of whom have begun their sexual lives by age 15 - are more
than four times as likely to be infected with HIV than young men. Among 15-19
year olds, this ratio is as high as six times.
Download
full research dossier here (PDF) | Luganda
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