Title: AIDS and war: women in the crossfire.

POPLINE Document Number: 195365

Author(s):

Kaczor JW

Source citation:

Global AIDSLink, 2004 Apr-May;(85):14-15.

Abstract:

Women account for nearly 50 percent of AIDS cases worldwide. Out of 18.5 million women living with AIDS. 18 million of them live in developing countries. 15 million of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa. Equally alarming has been the increase in armed conflict, especially in developing countries, since the end of the Cold War. Disruption of services and the forced movement of people during armed conflict make conflict zones a ripe environment for the spread of STIS, especially HIV. Indeed, evidence suggests that civil wars and the subsequent movement of both troops and refugees contributed to the spread of HIV in Uganda, Mozambique and Angola. Why are women in conflict zones at particular risk for contracting HIV? And what are the programmatic responses necessary to address women who live in or near conflict zones? (excerpt)

Keywords:

Developing Countries
Women
War
AIDS
Violence
Gender Issues
Refugees
Demographic Factors
Population
Political Factors
HIV Infections
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Behavior
Migrants
Migration
Population Dynamics