Why Are More Women HIV Infected Than Males in Kenya?

Development Analysis Vol.2

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Development Analysis Vol. 2
By: Imelda Akinyi (Kenya)

Title: WHY ARE MORE WOMEN HIV INFECTED THAN MALES IN KENYA?

It has been realized that more women are HIV infected than males in Kenya. According to the National Aids Control Council analysis of HIV/AIDs on 12th Oct, 2006 in the Kenya Standard paper, we have women leading with 7.7% of 1,276,000 persons which is the total number of HIV infected persons. When we look at the analysis of the youth, HIV infected youth males were 0.8% and females were 4.5%.This is so because more female youths are involved in ‘sugar-daddy’ relationships than males due to poverty or rather unemployment conditions unlike males who are flexible and can do any kind of work for money e.g. luggage carrying at bus stations, pit latrine digging, bicycle (boda boda) transportation e.t.c.

Females are more accessible to medical facilities than males thus earlier detection of their status. Their accessibility to medical facilities is seen when they see gynecologists during pregnancy. Most males will always try hard to persevere what is termed as ‘jikaza kisabuni’ thus they only look for medical facilities when they are very down. This could be what elevates the number of infected females since the data for analysis is collected in hospital yet most strong HIV infected males are still out there in the field while strong HIV infected females are in the hospitals for medical check-ups. More females are victims of rape cases than males. Thus, the spread of HIV and AIDs is increased amongst females. Less safer and protected sex is being practiced on young women since they date older men ‘sugar-daddies’ that they awe thus no discussion on safer sex is done or rather it is the ‘sugar-daddies’ who decide on whether to have protected and safer sex or not.

Marriage is valued so much in Kenya such that even when a husband is unfaithful, the wife remains quiet for the sake of keeping the marriage thus women still do not know their rights. Domestic violence is still practiced, in that if a husband is promiscuous, the wife remains silence because if she attars any word on that she is bitten up.

What are we doing? Women are now being more open to their daughters like we have an anti-AIDs advert on ‘Open Your Heart, Talk!’ This advert encourages parents especially mothers to be very free with their daughters, this way they can advise and educate their girls on HIV/AIDs awareness. Good enough it’s a women and a girl-focused advertising. The government has also played a big role by reducing the prices of sanitary towels from ksh.95 to Ksh.65. This is now better and quite affordable to the youth. This way the rate of prostitution for money for sanitary towels has been reduced.

One of our Kenyan nominated Member of Parliament Mrs. Njoki Ndung’u proposed hardening of punishments for rapists and it was accepted and now rapists are punished more than before. This has promoted good conduct amongst Kenyans. Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing services are given out for free and these services have been opened in most rural areas, dispensaries and hospitals where many people can access them. Thus, most people whether infected or affected are informed and guided. The Government gives out condoms for free. The condoms are found in dispensaries, hospitals and social halls. This way, those who cannot purchase condoms still have access to the government ones since they serve the same purpose.

Kenyan women have formed many small organizations that promote the fight against HIV/AIDS. This encourages good conduct amongst them in relation to HIV/AIDs prevention.
Problems faced.: We have still not come to the level of gender equality and that is why women still hold on to unfaithful husbands. Most HIV infected persons are not open to the society due to fear of stigmatization thus they can still date the healthy ones and infect them or be re-infected. Openness between youths and parents has not been fully achieved due to African taboos where it is still believed that sex is an obscene thing and should not be discussed with young ones.Early forced marriages and wife inheritance are still practiced.Anti Retro-viral drug use has increased sexual practices on some infected persons, since some of them do not appreciate the importance of the treatment but instead are out to revenge by infecting others.
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Written and compiled by ARYI Development Analyst Imelda Akinyi, a biomedical scientist living in Kenya.