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Women still more vulnerable to HIV than men

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Summary of story from AllAfrica, November 1, 2011

Women continue to be more vulnerable to HIV infection, according to the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia (CIDRZ).

Margaret Kasaro, microbicide trial network (MTN) investigator at CIDRZ, said that according to joint studies conducted in December 2009 by United Nations HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), women in the sub-Saharan Africa account for about 60 per cent of HIV infections worldwide.

Speaking during a two-day media workshop on HIV research in Lusaka, Dr Kasaro said the five major HIV drivers in Zambia were unprotected sexual practice, multiple concurrent sexual partnerships, low rates of condom use, gender based violence and poverty.

“There is need to find tools that can help prevent HIV infection among women, and clinical research is one of the interventions,” she said.

Dr Kasaro also cited medical male circumcision as one of the most effective ways of fighting the spread of HIV among both men and women.

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