HIV: Why the Virus Affects More Women Than Men

Health experts have raised concerns over the rising rate of HIV infections among women, noting that biological, social, and economic factors make women more vulnerable to contracting the virus than men.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria recently reported that about 4,000 young women aged 15 to 24 get infected with HIV every week around the world. Most of these new infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where the crisis is reported to be most severe.

According to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), young women in this age group are more than twice as likely to be living with HIV compared to men of the same age.

Medical experts attribute this disparity to several factors. Biologically, women are at greater risk during unprotected heterosexual intercourse because the lining of the vagina and cervix is more susceptible to small tears and abrasions through which the virus can enter.

Social and cultural factors also play a significant role. Gender inequality, poverty, and lack of access to education and healthcare often make women less able to negotiate safe sex or insist on condom use. Early marriage and sexual violence further heighten the risk of infection among young girls and women.

Dr. Adaeze Nwosu, a public health physician, explained that women’s vulnerability is also linked to limited control over reproductive and sexual decisions. “Many women, especially in rural communities, depend economically on men, which makes it difficult for them to refuse risky sexual practices,” she said.

Experts also warn that stigma and discrimination prevent many women from seeking testing and treatment early, allowing the virus to spread undetected within communities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for stronger gender-sensitive HIV prevention strategies, including comprehensive sex education, women’s empowerment programmes, and increased access to reproductive health services.

As global health agencies push toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, experts emphasize that tackling the gender gap in HIV infections is essential to achieving that goal.