“The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. As the infection progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, and the person becomes more susceptible to infections. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS; antiretroviral drugs can slow down the process even further.” (World Health Organization, WHO) HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). A person infected with HIV has to live with it all their lives as it is still currently incurable. In all but a very small number of cases, HIV/AIDS damages an individual’s
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AIDS is the main cause of deaths among women in the reproductive age group. Prevalence is estimated at 1.1%, with much higher rates among high risk groups in the country. High prevalence rates are observed among commercial sex workers which is approximately 2-7% and men who have sex with men approximately 11%. In the Dominican Republic, discrimination is a serious problem for people living with HIV & AIDS as some of them are denied employment advancement opportunities and other benefits. The Dominican Republic has made significant accomplishments in reproductive health in recent years. There has been a considerable reduction in the total fertility rate from 7.4% to 2.4% between 1990 and 2006. The contraceptive prevalence rate among married women is 70%; however, high sterilization rates contribute significantly towards this figure. The pattern of childbearing is early sexual involvement, having children at a very early age and early surgical sterilization. These trends observed in the Dominican Republic does not adequately protect against STIs including HIV, high pregnancy rates among teenage girls and raises serious questions about the quality of health care being
AIDS is the main cause of deaths among women in the reproductive age group. Prevalence is estimated at 1.1%, with much higher rates among high risk groups in the country. High prevalence rates are observed among commercial sex workers which is approximately 2-7% and men who have sex with men approximately 11%. In the Dominican Republic, discrimination is a serious problem for people living with HIV & AIDS as some of them are denied employment advancement opportunities and other benefits. The Dominican Republic has made significant accomplishments in reproductive health in recent years. There has been a considerable reduction in the total fertility rate from 7.4% to 2.4% between 1990 and 2006. The contraceptive prevalence rate among married women is 70%; however, high sterilization rates contribute significantly towards this figure. The pattern of childbearing is early sexual involvement, having children at a very early age and early surgical sterilization. These trends observed in the Dominican Republic does not adequately protect against STIs including HIV, high pregnancy rates among teenage girls and raises serious questions about the quality of health care being