Gender inequality and poverty produce specific conditions that make females more susceptible to HIV/AIDS, resulting in a triple threat to the well-being of women and girls.  Below are some of the socio-economic factors that are specifically affecting, thereby increasing the infection rates of, women and girls: 

• Early marriage.  82 million girls around the world will marry prior to their 18th birthday.  The practice of marrying off young girls to older men increases the girl�s likelihood of contracting HIV. 
• Economic Insecurity.  When women do not have access to economic opportunity they are less able to negotiate sexual relations.  A woman who is unable to say no to sex or demand her partner wear a condom is more likely to contract HIV. 
• Domestic Violence.  Between 10-50% of women are abused by a partner at least once in a lifetime.  Sexual abuse may also accompany physical violence.  Furthermore, fear of violence prevents women from seeking information, testing, and accessing services.  Domestic violence also increases the likelihood of women engaging in non-consensual sex and decreases the likelihood that a woman can demand her partner use a condom.
• Unequal Access to Education. The majority of school-aged children not enrolled are girls.  This discrepancy must be addressed in order to reverse the alarming new infection rates of young girls.  When girls remain in school they are more likely to delay the age of their first sexual encounter, more likely to be well-informed on HIV/AIDS and more likely to use a condom.  
• Sex Trafficking. Hundreds of thousands of women are forced into sex work each year, dramatically increasing their chances of contracting and spreading the disease. 

What You Can Do

Resources: 

Report for Women, HIV and AIDS in the United States and Globally
Global Coalition on Women and AIDS
UNAIDS
UNIFEM