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Gender and HIV/AIDS

The UCLA Program in Global Health recognizes that the issue of gender is crucial to both properly understanding and responding effectively to the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. One of the greatest challenges in the fight against HIV/AIDS is the long, slow effort to alter the social and cultural norms that put many women in developing countries at increased risk for HIV infection. "Gender" should not be used simply as a synonym for "women", however. Gender is a complex framework that deeply affects both women and men in countless ways in societies. Discussions of gender and HIV/AIDS must take into account both men and women and the ways they interact with each other in society.

In April 2008, UCLA PGH, in collaboration with Columbia University, held a think tank meeting, Gender and HIV: Policy Lessons for Low Prevalence Scenarios, at the American University of Cairo. Approximately 40 participants, including significant representation from the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region, attended, including researchers, policymakers, and advocates with expertise in HIV/AIDS, gender, sexual and reproductive health, and related fields. A special issues of a peer-reviewed journal that presents the findings of the meeting is in development. A follow-up meeting, MENA Think Tank on Stigma and HIV Prevention, will be held in October 2009 in Rabat, Morocco, and will also address issues of gender and stigma in the MENA region.

Dean Peacock, MSW, a research analyst at PGH and Co-Director of Sonke Gender Justice, has been instrumental in advancing research and policy development on issues related to gender and HIV/AIDS. Two important meetings on gender have convened in South Africa. A national meeting was held with key experts in the areas of men, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and gender, in collaboration with the National Department of Health, Constella Futures, the Medical Research Council, and University of KwaZulu-Natal, Instituto Promundo, and the International Coalition for Research on Women. In addition, a national men's imbizo (summit) was held in conjunction with the National Department of Health for 300 men from across the country, to explore their experiences of SRH services. Mr. Peacock was also involved in writing a WHO Men and Gender Policy Brief: Policy Approaches to Involving Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality, in March 2008.

UCLA Program in Global Health: Gender and HIV/AIDS Publications and Resources:

• Sonke Gender Justice Network
  Web site.
• Gender and AIDS: time to act
  Greig A, Peacock D, Jewkes R, Msimang S. AIDS. 2008 Aug;22 Suppl 2:S35-43.
• Sexual diversity, social inclusion and HIV/AIDS
  Cáceres CF, Aggleton P, Galea JT. AIDS. 2008 Aug;22 Suppl 2:S45-55.