Authors:

Barbara A. Friedland, Andrea Ries Thurman, Harriet Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha, R. Karl Malcolm

Abstract:

Women worldwide face three overlapping risks that significantly impact their health and well-being: HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy. In 2022, more than half of the approximately 38 million people living with HIV were women and girls. According to the WHO, over one million STIs are acquired every day worldwide often leading to lifelong complications for females, such as infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Half of pregnancies each year are unintended with over 60% ending in abortion. These statistics underscore gender inequalities that disproportionately affect poor women with lower levels of education and limited access to modern healthcare. Two of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—Goals 3 and 5—are aimed at improving women’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH).