HIV and H(2)O: Tracing the Connections Between Gender, Water and HIV

• Source:

• West BS, Hirsch JS, El-Sadr W. 2012. AIDS Behav. 2012 Jun 4. Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University.

• URL:

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22660934

• Summary:

• The health consequences for HIV-affected families of insufficient access to safe water and sanitation are particularly dire: inadequate access complicates medication adherence and increases vulnerability to opportunistic infections for persons living with HIV. The gendered nature of water collection and HIV care-with women disproportionately bearing the burden in both areas-presents an unrealized opportunity to improve HIV outcomes through investments in water/sanitation. Our findings suggest that the positive synergies of investing in water/sanitation in high HIV prevalence communities that are also expanding access to ART would be significant, with health multiplying effects that impact women and entire communities.