Women and HIV/AIDS in Malaysia: Socio-cultural causes of infection

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (AIDS) have been detected in Malaysia’s male population since 1986. Now the female population has also been found to have been infected with HIV/AIDS with even higher percentages than the males and not only among women who were involved in risky activities such as drug addiction and prostitution but also among housewives and teenage girls. This study examines socio-cultural factors that caused infection of HIV/AIDS among Malay women. Apart from secondary sources primary data were obtained through focus group study and in-depth interviews with 16 HIV/AIDS positive informants who were inmates of detention and rehabilitation centers located in Besut, Terengganu, Pasir Puteh, Bachok and Kota Bharu, Kelantan. This study found that the socio-cultural factor of unequal power relations in sexual contexts was the main cause of HIV/AIDS infection among these women. They were also victims of socio-economic deprivations such as poverty, lack of education and unemployment. Imroving their standard of living and quality of life by improving their literacy, employment opportunities, and medical-health status, would go a long way in reducing their risk to HIV/AIDS infection.