Gender, HIV/AIDS and Disability as Cross-Cutting Issues in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Gender refers the socially given attributes, roles, activities, responsibilities and needs connected to being men (masculine) and women (feminine) in a given society at a given time, and as a member of a specific community within specific society, while HIV is a virus that attacks immune cells called CD4 cells. Notably, disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on equal basis with others. However, the relationship between HIV and disability has not received due attention. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the cross cutting issues of gender, HIV/AIDS and disability in Ethiopia. Methods: All relevant and available documents addressed in related with gender, HIV/AIDS and disability. In the review, the obtained quantitative and qualitative data was comprehensively and comparatively analyzed using documenting analysis. Results and Conclusion: Gender inequity and inequality is a pervasive problem in Ethiopia. Still now a day, women in Ethiopia occupy low status in the society. Gender based discrimination, lack of protection of basic human rights, education and training, basic health services and employment are widespread throughout Ethiopia. The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains one of the public health challenges in Ethiopia since it was first recognized in the mid-1980s. The HIV is a life-changing illness; a person can live a long and full live with it. People transmit HIV in their bodily fluids, including: blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids and breast milk. Women represent almost half of the 40 million people worldwide living with HIV. Due to women’s greater physiological, socio-cultural and economic susceptibility to HIV infection, it is likely that the proportion of female adults and young women living with HIV will continue to rise in many regions of the world. It is estimated that 1 billion people (15% of the world’s population) have a disability. Therefore, gender and disability as cross-cutting issues in the response to HIV also calls for broader social, cultural and economic development which is person centered and disability-inclusive to addresses the unique barriers that face people with disabilities in particular women and people living with HIV.