If statistics are to be believed then it has been observed that the HIV in women has increased to a very large extent. There are various causes for HIV in women and also it is a biological fact that women are more prone to HIV than their male counterparts the world over. The fairer sex is believed to be the one where the chances of HIV infection are more as no specific precautions are available for them especially in developing countries where the number of HIV infected females is much larger. As the status for HIV infection is not known for about six months after the infection so it becomes difficult to live with the infection.

There are various causes for HIV in women. Some of them are stated as follows:

Violence:
It has been a major cause of HIV in women; it has been prevalent in the developing countries. Women have to suffer various forms of violence like rape or forced sexual intercourse. During rape or any such activity there is transfer of the bodily fluids like the semen from the body of the infected male which results in the transfer of HIV in women who are the victim of such activities.

In equal rights:
Women in developing countries are not given equal rights as their male counterparts and have a little say in the matters of the house or regarding their sexual needs. Hence it is the male who decides as to what should be done. For instance, if a male doesn’t want to use the condom, the female partner can do nothing about it and has to obey as to what her partner says. Also in some cases since women are not given equal rights like the right to property or to earn income, then in the worst situation they take to prostitution and if they have an HIV infected individual as their client then they tend to infect themselves with the virus.

Blood transfusion and using infected needles:
During any accident or during pregnancy or delivery blood transfusion is required in women. If this blood which is to be transferred into the body of the women is not tested for HIV and is transfused, then the chances of infection with HIV in women increase as if the blood contains HIV then it is transferred into the body of the women and she suffer s from HIV infection. Also if sterilized needles are not used then to chances are that if the needle is used by infected individual then the transmission of virus takes place.

The HIV infection can also be prevented by various methods and thus can reduce the effects of HIV in women. The various preventive measures which should be taken are:

Spreading awareness and education:
This is an important tool as if women are aware about their welfare then only can they protect themselves and their families from the dreaded virus.

Promoting and protecting women’s rights:
The human rights for women should be promoted and protected and they should be given an equal say in their matters and also should be provided with various opportunities which lead to their progress and also giving them rights to protect themselves from the virus.

Other preventions:
They include various antiretroviral drugs as well as the other treatments which can prevent HIV. Also women should use female condoms in order to protect themselves from the HIV.

Apart from the above stated prevention there are a number of prevention techniques which are under trial and would be soon available .But as is the case with HIV today that awareness about HIV is the only treatment available for the same.