In the hardest-hit countries, girls account for more than 80 percent of all new infections among adolescents – and are up to eight times more likely to be living with HIV than their male peers.
Harmful gender norms, discrimination, violence, limited access to education and a lack of tailored services inhibit women’s and girls’ access to health care and fuel new infections.
The 15-24-year-old population is expected to double in the next decade in sub-Saharan Africa, so addressing the staggering HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women is critical to preventing a catastrophic epidemic.