Women are more biologically vulnerable to HIV than men.
However, it is the social and economic vulnerability of women and
girls that puts them at such risk.
Gender inequality prevents women from protecting themselves from
HIV infection. Gender-based violence, particularly in intimate
relationships, is also fuelling the South African epidemic.
Gender norms shape male and female roles and behaviour, and can put
both women and men at risk. For example the norm of having multiple
concurrent partners is now seen as one of the fundamental drivers
of HIV in the region.
The MSP has funded several projects that aim to understand the
intersection between gender and HIV, and to develop interventions
to break this vicious cycle.
Read the full gender thematic brief
[PDF 104KB]
