Transcript HIV/AIDS: Impact for Women and Girls Frances E. Ashe-Goins, R.N. M.P.H Deputy Director

HIV/AIDS: Impact for
Women and Girls
Frances E. Ashe-Goins, R.N. M.P.H
Deputy Director
U.S. DHHS-Office on Women’s Health
Office on Women’s Health
Vision Statement:
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All Women and Girls are Healthier and
Have a Better Sense of Well-Being
Mission statement:
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Provide leadership to promote health
equity for women and girls through
sex/gender-specific approaches
AIDS Incidence Cases
No. of Persons (in thousands)
AIDS Rates
HIV/AIDS and a Woman’s
Biological Makeup
Women are more likely to contract HIV
from an infected male partner than vice
versa; the odds range from twice as likely
to 20 times more likely.
 The mucous membrane in the vagina is
exposed to semen for a longer duration in
comparison to vaginal fluid that may enter
the penis.
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Biological Makeup cont.
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The immature cervix of young women have an
added degree of vulnerability from the
susceptible cells.
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STDs create a 3 fold risk in acquiring HIV
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Open ulcers or sores around the genital or anal
area create portals for viral entry
STD Variables
April is National Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Awareness Month.
 19 million new STD infections occur each year
 Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the most common STDs
reported
 Young females aged 15 to 19 had the highest Chlamydia
rate
 Young women of color are disproportionately affected by
STDs
 Viral STDs are the most prevalent and problematic STDs
today, such as HIV, HPV, Herpes and Hepatitis B
Child Abuse Variables

Types of child abuse
– Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and
emotional maltreatment
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Signs of child abuse
– Physical
 Burns, bites, bruises (faded/old or new), broken
bones, or black eyes
 Frightened of parents and shrinks when
approached by adults
 Reports of injury by parent or adult caregiver
Information retrieved from US National Library and the National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childabuse.html & Child Welfare Information Gateway at
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm
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…child abuse cont.
– Neglect
 Frequent absent from school
 Begs or steals food or money
 Lack of medical care
 Lack proper clothing for the weather
– Sexual Abuse
 Difficulty walking or sitting
 Nightmares or bed wetting
 Changes in appetite
 Sophisticated sexual knowledge
– Emotional Maltreatment
 Extreme behavior; i.e. demanding, extremely
passive, or aggressive
Information retrieved from US National Library and the National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childabuse.html & Child Welfare Information Gateway at
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm
Domestic Violence Variables
2007 National Census of Domestic Violence
Services
On September 25, 2007--1,346 programs indicated
that they….
– Served 53,203 victims
– There were 7,707 unmet requests for services, due
to shortage of funds or staff
– 20,582 hot line calls
– 29,902 people trained
Socio-Cultural Issues for Women
Gender Role…in the World of Sex
 Male/Female socialization
 Hygiene…douching, over the counter
yeast creams
 Distrust…Disbelief

socio-cultural...cont.
Myths Around Sexuality
 Social and Information Network (HIV/AIDS
whispered, closeted)
 Stigma (discrimination, isolation)
 Little, poor or no communication with
Healthcare Providers (influenced by
ethnicity, race, gender, class, language,
etc)
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Socio-Economic Factors
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Poverty…low income…part-time employment
Limited education…functional illiteracy
Outside mainstream (weak messages back in the
neighborhood)
No relationship to Public Models of PWAs (the
FACE of AIDS)
Little or No Influence on Decision Makers and/or
Program Designers and/or Service Providers
Socio-economic..cont.
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Limited Time..No Time
Limited Access to Primary Care/ Prevention
Screening
Violence in communities and Families
The “NEED” to Reproduce
Societal Norms (young women/older men;
concurrent partners of males
Histories of Trauma (childhood sexual abuse,
incest, domestic violence)
OWH Women and HIV/AIDS
Programs
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Model Mentorship Program
Women and HIV Prevention Strategies
Workgroup
Women in the Rural South
Incarcerated and Newly Released Women
HIV Prevention in Minority Institutions
Native Women and HIV Prevention
HIV Prevention for Women in Puerto Rico and
US Virgin Islands
OWH programs..cont.
Intergenerational HIV Prevention program
 Intersection of HIV and Domestic Violence
 HIV Prevention for Girls at Risk for Gang
Activity
 National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day, March 10, 2008,
“Honoring Our Sisters: Women Living with
HIV/AIDS”

OWH HIV Program Evaluation-2007
A diverse set of programs were
funded, all of which successfully
recruited women of color.
 Knowledge-based prevention
programs for women of color are
effective.
 The Mentoring Partnership Model is
effective in increasing organizational
capacity of protégé programs.
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Evaluation Conclusions
Program capacity is an important consideration
in funding small, community based
organizations. It is recommended that adequate
funding be allocated to support the services
provided and data collection activities.
 There is a need to re-think what HIV/AIDS risk
behavior information is important to ascertain
from women of color and how to ask it.
 Women of color may know their HIV status but
may not be in care.
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Thought For Today
"We are each gifted in a unique
and important way. It is our
privilege and our adventure to
discover our own special light.“
Mary Dunbar
Contact information
Frances E. Ashe-Goins RN, MPH
Deputy Director - DHHS-OWH
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20021
202-690-6373; fax 202-401-4005
[email protected]
www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662