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New AIDS cases on the rise in women and girls
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-11 11:21 Women and girls - get out your red ribbons. March
10th is National Women and Girls HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day.
As of 2004, 27 percent of new AIDS cases in the United States were in women
-- and women of color, especially African American women, made up the majority
of these new cases, according to the US Centers for Disease and Prevention.
To raise awareness of this growing problem in the U.S. and globally, March
10th will mark the first National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Dr.
Anthony S. Fauci announced in a statement.
In the early days of the AIDS pandemic, fewer women were infected with HIV,
Dr. Fauci, Director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases continued. However, as of 2005, 46 percent of adults living with
HIV/AIDS throughout the world were women. These 17.5 million women represent 1
million more cases than reported in 2003.
And, according to the World Health Organization's UNAIDS, the "vase majority"
of women became infected through heterosexual intercourse.
Along with African American and Hispanic women, who represented approximately
83 percent of new U.S. cases between 2001 and 2004, younger women are
"particularly vulnerable." During this time period 38 percent of new cases in
individuals under age 25 were in females, compared with 27 percent among those
25 years or older.
HIV infection is also different in women than in men - women become infected
more easily and develop different types of complications, such as recurrent
vaginal infections, Dr. Fauci explained. Women also tend to seek treatment at a
later stage of infection and experience disease progression when they have lower
levels of virus than their male counterparts. In addition, drug metabolism is
different in women, which may affect how they respond to HIV antiretroviral
drugs.
March 10th will be a day of recognition of these disturbing trends. Along
with raising awareness, "new ways of thinking" are need, Dr. Fauci points out.
Increased gender-based education and empowerment of women are needed, so they
can take control of their lives, particularly in the areas of health and sexual
relationships.
The NIAID supports research through the Women's Interagency HIV Study and
other clinical research networks - and more participation by women in clinical
trials is needed to better understand gender-based differences.
The development of vaginal gel microbicides, a method of prevention that
women can control, is the focus of several clinical trials. Because in many
cultures women cannot refuse sex or demand the use of a condom, for fear of
violence or other negative consequences, female-controlled methods of prevention
are sorely needed.
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