HIV/AIDS Situatioin in Nepal : Transition to Women

Abstract: This study is about age and gender specific HIV morbidity in Nepal. The main objective of the study is to find out the factors that affect the HIV prevalence in Nepali society and the relationships of different existing socio cultural and economic factors that have led females vulnerable to HIV infection especially to housewives. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used for the data collection. Initially, Nepal’s epidemic was driven by sex workers and drug users .Though HIV prevalence was concentrated in these groups for several years, now it has been proved that  the outbreak is not limited among those groups only, the prevalence among housewives , clients of sex workers, migrants and male homosexuals   are stretching up . Moreover findings have shown that the HIV epidemics is taking a devastating tool in women in Nepal, covering the more HIV prevalence number by low risk group housewives among the HIV affected female population. Lack of fully inclusive knowledge of HIV/AIDS; lack of knowledge of proper use of condom, negligence, and risky sexual behavior have compelled maximum risk for HIV contraction in society. Socio economic and cultural structures and the consequences of its correlation aggravated the HIV prevalence among people, especially have affected women. Discrimination of women is entrenched in Nepali society. Due to disparity and discrimination women are not able to get formal education that deprives them from any opportunity for the employment that leads poverty on them. Living under poverty often stems them to engage in high risk situations and likely to adopt risky sexual behaviors which in turn render them vulnerable to HIV infection. The masculinity of the society, and women’s less power for the decision making process have made females heavily dependent on males, and this constraint them from entering into negotiating for protective sex which put them in HIV infection .The study further revealed the triggering effect of powerlessness of housewives and risky sexual behavior of men to HIV infection to low risk group housewives.  If the same trends go on, the time is not so far for the Nepali women to take up the higher number of HIV prevalence, and the low risk group housewives will be highly vulnerable. It is already urgent to activate the plans and intervention program for the prevention of HIV prevalence which is stretching towards women especially to low risk group housewives. Based on the findings, conclusions and recommendations are drawn.