Gender Inequality as a Barrier to Utilization of Services in Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan

Abstract

This study examines gender inequality as a barrier to utilization of services in mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan. The study uses a feminist approach to explore the barriers related to gender inequality during the uptake of HIV treatment. The data was collected from 26 medical practitioners and 10 HIV positive mothers through in-depth interviews. HIV positive mothers were found to have experienced discrimination in their treatment, difficulty in traveling from far off areas to the special clinics, and they expressed having the least family support as HIV patients.They also experienced inequality in terms of the use of ARV prophylaxis, autonomy in reproductive choices, sexual priorities, disclosure, stigma, agency and intimate partner violence. Furthermore, they emphasized the need for sensitization and counseling of male spouses. The study concludes that the gender inequality grossly affects the uptake of HIV treatment among HIV positive mothers. It is thus recommended that there is a need to incorporate gender inclusive policy and practice to eliminate the vertical transmission of HIV in Pakistan.