The demographic AIDS trap for women in Africa - implications for health promotion strategies.
Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:21 (abstract no. W.D.6) Decosas J; Canadian International Development Agency; Quebec; Canada
The population pyramid in most African countries is symmetrical with a broad base. However, in urban areas, one finds a prominent one-sided bulge caused by the migration of young males (18-35) into the cities for employment. The prevalence of HIV infection in urban populations in Africa is highest in the 25-35 age-group in males and in the 15-25 age-group in females. Because of the distortion of the urban population profile due to male migration, the size of the most severely affected age groups are equal for both genders, resulting in an approximate 1:1 male:female ratio of infection. However, as the epidemic spreads into the larger rural population, the absolute size of the most severely affected younger female population is larger than the size of the slightly older male population. This will eventually result in a male:female infection ratio of about 0.8:1. This excess of female morbidity from HIV infection has important implications related to the social and the economic role of women in society. It also adds fuel to an emerging epidemic of pediatric AIDS. Health promotion strategies to address this issue should include a) public policies designed to narrow the male:female age-gap of onset of sexual activity, b) policies addressing the economic migration patterns of the male work force, and c) programs designed to increase the slope of the general population pyramid.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Health Promotion, Africa, Urban Population, Prevalence, Rural Population, Emigration and Immigration, Human, Female, Male, Child, ICA7 910616
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