HIV/AIDS among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of The Current Practices and Status

Abstract

Background: After HIV was discovered more than three decades ago, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is still disproportionately affected by the epidemic although, the region is only 11% of the global population. Women and young girls bear the HIV burdens due to the interconnectedness of structural, cultural, biological, behavioral, social, and economic vulnerabilities. Method: As part of the study’s methodologies, a desk review of the body of research was done, and materials that included HIV interventions of all kinds were included. Results: Significant advancements have been made in the fields of biological, behavioral, and structural interventions; nevertheless, the cultures and customs that upheld them—including norms firmly rooted in patriarchal practices—continued to pose a significant obstacle to lowering the prevalence of HIV among women and young girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conclusion: Context-specific intervention efforts should address the linked factors that contributed to the disproportionate number of HIV infections among women and young girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. The region’s culture, traditions, and structural interventions that address economic vulnerability and gender inequality laced with patriarchal practices are promising in reducing the risk of HIV infection among women.