A new report, published in the November 27 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, has revealed that HIV infected women are more likely to obtain antiretroviral therapy (ART).
This is according to a study conducted in 12 developing countries by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The study shows that this was due to routine HIV testing and counselling during antenatal care and universal treatment eligibility for pregnant women with HIV.
It was also found that men were more likely to delay seeking treatment for various reasons, which include: stigma, societal norms and employment responsibilities, among other factors.
In all 10 African countries studied, and Haiti, the most recent estimate of female-to-male ratio of women to men newly enrolled in ART significantly exceeded the UNAIDS estimate of the ratio of women to men among persons with HIV by 23 per cent to 83 per cent.
The authors of the report conclude that: “Prioritising increased ART coverage among men with HIV could decrease male morbidity and mortality and reduce HIV incidence among sexual partners.”
