Prevention · Education · Support · Referrals

Serving the mountain communities of Banff, Canmore, Kananaskis
Lake Louise, Exshaw and Morley

Free
condoms
are
available
at the
following
locations:

AIDS Bow
Valley

The
Living
Room

The
Banff
YWCA

The Banff
Centre

Lube and
dental dams
are also
available at the
AIDS Bow Valley
office
302 Buffalo St.

HIV/AIDS and WOMEN
Due to the initial prevalence of HIV and AIDS among gay men, it has taken many years for health professionals, and the public in general to recognize women as a group at risk.  Though steps have been taken towards ensuring programs and services, there are still many issues to women which require further study.  HIV rates among women have risen quickly  in Canada.

THE STATS
By the year 2000, over 13 million women worldwide will have been infected with HIV globally.  Four million women have died of AIDS.  The global tally of people infected with HIV will be between 30 and 40 million people.  The number of women infected with HIV is climbing rapidly.  Women are also becoming infected at a significantly younger age than men.  On average, women become infected years earlier than men.  In many countries, 60% of all new HIV infections are among women 15 to 24 years old.  Women are among the fastest growing groups of HIV infected people today.  In 1995, women accounted for 19.4% of new positive HIV diagnoses.  By 1999, that number had climbed to over 30%. 

THE REASONS
Women are biologically more vulnerable than men to HIV infection.  Studies have found that male to female transmission to be two to four times more likely than female to male transmission.  Young girls are particularly vulnerable.    Women who are HIV positive also risk transmitting the virus to their unborn babies.

WOMEN AND TESTING
Doctors seldom compile sexual histories and often fail to offer HIV tests to White or Asian women because these do not fit the stereotype of a person at risk for HIV.  As a result, these women were more likely to be infected without knowing and therefore, enter the healthcare system only when they became ill.

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND VIRAL LOAD
Viral load in the cervical fluid is highest during active menstruation and lowest during the week following menstruation.  The level of cell-free virus (HIV virus is not attached to any cell) is highest “mid-cycle”, and again at menses.

WOMEN AND HETEROSEXUAL EXPOSURE
HIV or AIDS cases are often reported as stemming from “no known risk factors”, however are subsequently determined to be from unprotected heterosexual sex.  Another concern for women is that HIV is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men due to the greater exposed surface area of female genital tract and the higher likelihood for small abrasions through which the virus might pass.  Another factor is the length of time seminal fluid may remain in the vagina.

WOMEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH WOMEN
Sexual transmission of HIV from woman to woman appears to be rare, however, contact between vaginal fluids, blood and sores or cuts in the mouth or vaginal tissue can pose a risk.  The risk is increased during early and late stages of HIV/AIDS, as viral load appears to increase during these stages.

HIV AND PREGNANCY
If a pregnant woman is found to be HIV positive, HIV medication (AZT) can be taken by the mother and by the fetus to  reduce the likelihood of prenatal (mother-to-child) transmission.  Unfortunately, health care budgets in less affluent areas  restrict access to these medications and thus prenatal  transmission is very high in Africa and Southeast Asia.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN
Lack of partner cooperation with condom use, poverty issues, adherence to rigid gender norms, emotional, social, and dependency of women on their partners, abusive relationships, and the assumption of a partner's monogamy can cause difficulties in prevention.  These problems have led to the development of social and mechanical woman-initiated and specific protection.