Women's right to safe sexuality and to autonomy in all decisions relating to sexuality is respected almost nowhere. As it is intimately related to economic independence, this right is most violated in those places where women exchange sex for survival as a way of life. And we are not talking about prostitution but rather a basic social and economic arrangement between the sexes which results on the one hand from poverty affecting men and women, and on the other hand, from male control over women's lives in a context of poverty. By and large, most men, however poor can choose when, with whom and with what protection if any, to have sex. Most women cannot.
Women have little or no control over own sexuality and sexual relationships.
They suffer from poor reproductive and sexual health, leading to serious morbidity and mortality. Family resources are nearly always devoted to caring for the man. Women, even when infected themselves, are providing all the care. Furthermore, the clinical management is based on research on men. Disclosure of status, partner notification, confidentiality.