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. 2011 May;33(4):522-39.
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9566.2010.01304.x.

Understanding the gender disparity in HIV infection across countries in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from the Demographic and Health Surveys

Monica Akinyi Magadi  1
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Understanding the gender disparity in HIV infection across countries in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from the Demographic and Health Surveys

Monica Akinyi Magadi. Sociol Health Illn. 2011 May.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Women in sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, which is exacerbated by their role in society and biological vulnerability. The specific objectives of this article are to (i) determine the extent of gender disparity in HIV infection; (ii) examine the role of HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) awareness and sexual behaviour factors on the gender disparity and (iii) establish how the gender disparity varies between individuals of different characteristics and across countries. The analysis involves multilevel logistic regression analysis applied to pooled Demographic and Health Surveys data from 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa conducted during 2003-2008. The findings suggest that women in sub-Saharan Africa have on average a 60% higher risk of HIV infection than their male counterparts. The risk for women is 70% higher than their male counterparts of similar sexual behaviour, suggesting that the observed gender disparity cannot be attributed to sexual behaviour. The results suggest that the risk of HIV infection among women (compared to men) across countries in sub-Saharan Africa is further aggravated among those who are younger, in female-headed households, not in stable unions or marital partnerships or had an earlier sexual debut.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Estimated probabilities of HIV infection for men and women in sub-Saharan Africa at varying country effects, mid 2000s. Note: The estimated probabilities are computed while holding all the other covariates in the model at their mean values
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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