Exploring Feminization of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: A Literature Review

Ironically and interestingly, HIV/AIDS statistics in many countries of the developing world with Zimbabwe being no exemption continues to show a gender skewed state of infection with women more than men increasingly and apparently being more infected. This is worrying considering the fact that it is men who are apparently more promiscuous than women. This gives rise to the phenomenon of feminization of HIV/AIDS that this article undertakes to explore. The aim of this article, therefore, is, through systematic literature review to explore the state of the feminization of HIV/AIDS and its dynamics thereof. Findings indicate the following factors as being responsible for the phenomenon of feminization of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: Inadequate support infrastructure to women living with HIV/AIDS, poverty of women, unfair gender role allocation, segregation and differentiation, and state of patriarchy. The following strategies have been suggested to surmount feminization of HIV/AIDS: diluting patriarchy, intensifying gender empowerment campaign in all social spheres of life, adopting male circumcision and adopting affirmative action as an approach to empower women. The article concludes by calling upon the governments and civil societies to undergo a paradigm shift of policies, ideologies and practices that will see patriarchy diluted and therefore lay bare the path to women’s empowerment process.