HIV/AIDS INFECTION AMONG INDIAN-MALAYSIAN WOMEN: SOCIOLOGICAL VULNERABILITIES AND IMPLICATION FOR FAMILY SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Malaysian housewives are more at the risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS as compared to commercial sex workers. The Ministry of Health in Malaysia in 2011 reported that nearly 40% of these infected women are housewives, and was infected through their husbands. The qualitative study aimed to explore the social vulnerabilities of HIV/AIDS among Indian mother living with HIV/AIDS and it’s implication on their socio-economic development. The paper draws participants from 5 Malaysian states, namely, Johor, Penang, Selangor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur. It is sufficient to say that these women suffer various forms of indignity including discrimination, stigmatization and socio-economic injustice. Furthermore, they also lack in reliable documentation such as marriage certificates, identity cards or birth certificates of their children. Thus, stringent corrective measures should be designed to address their problem. The present HIV prevention and intervention strategies need to focus on their burden in order to improve their health.