HIV/AIDS

Supporting Information

In many countries, HIV rates are much higher among teenage girls than teenage boys. Teenage girls are more susceptible to HIV infection because:

• young girls may not understand the risk or may be unable to protect themselves from sexual advances
• their vaginal membranes are thinner and more susceptible to infection than those of mature women
• they are sometimes targeted by older men who seek young women with little or no sexual experience because they are less likely to be infected.

Girls and women have the right to refuse unwanted and unprotected sex. Parents and teachers should discuss this issue with girls and boys to make them aware of girls' and women's rights, to teach boys to respect girls as equals, and to help girls avoid or defend themselves against unwanted sexual advances.