The estimated number of adults and children living with HIV/AIDS in mid-July 1996 was approximately 21.8 million people of whom 94% were in the developing world (UNAIDS). While sub-Saharan Africa claims the highest rate of HIV prevalence at 63% of the global total, Southeast Asia is experiencing the second highest rate at 23% of the global total. Of the global total of people living with HIV/AIDS, 12.2 million are men and 8.8 million are women. This estimate is to increase to more than 14 million women by the year 2000, by which time 4 million women will have died from AIDS. As the lives of the male population are rapidly being claimed by the AIDS epidemic, women are left behind to care and support their families and communities. As local hospitals do not have the capacity to provide care for the entire HIV/AIDS population in Thailand, home-care is essential. Furthermore, many of these women themselves are living with HIV/AIDS.Therefore, not only do the women have to fulfill their role as caretaker of their family, they must also now be income-earners to support their family. How are these women responding to such a situation?
Women's Response
One of the key factors in helping women take control of the situation is access to information and education. Many women have been organizing themselves into groups so that they are able to provide support for each other, share information about AIDS care, prevention and other related issues, as well as providing income-generating activities.
LISTEN to our VOICES