Eighth HIV/AIDS Monitoring and
Evaluation Review Group (MERG)
meeting
Addressing gender in HIV/AIDS Indicators: Key issues
to consider
Department of Gender, Women and Health
World Health Organization
Geneva, October 25-26
Avni Amin
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004
Caveats

Not many gender and HIV/AIDS indicators, so extrapolated
from gender indicators in broader health and development

Where in UNGASS core indicators is there scope for
integrating gender. Plus what are other areas for developing
gender and HIV indicators

Focused on brainstorming ideas, but methodology needs to
be developed
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004
Why address gender in HIV/AIDS indicators?

Gender inequalities influence women and men's
vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS

UNGASS declaration emphasizes gender equality in
HIV/AIDS responses through articles 59, 60, and 61

Therefore, need to translate, monitor and evaluate genderspecific goals and targets in prevention, treatment, and care
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004
Opportunities to include gender in UNGASS core
indicators
Key message:

Sex and age disaggregated data should be collected,
analyzed, and reported (at all levels) for all relevant indicators
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004: Gender in
the: Global commitment and action indicators
1. Amount of funds spent by international donors on
HIV/AIDS (discussed Group B)
 Can the financial flows questionnaire track proportion of funds
spent on women (e.g. SRH services, pMTCT, married women,
female sex workers, adolescent girls)?
 Can use gender-budgeting tools to include:
 Proportion of HIV-related health expenditures allocated to
women and girls, by institution (or donor) or
 Percentage of spending on HIV programmes targeting
women and girls (preferred)
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004: Gender in
the: Global commitment and action indicators
2. Assessment of HIV/AIDS advocacy efforts
(discussed group B)
 Additional indicator: Number of reports, pronouncements,
declarations, conferences, policy statements on HIV/AIDS that
specifically address or mention women, girls and/or gender
inequalities (e.g. references to violence, disparities in education,
lack of rights, customary practices and laws)
 Source: Review and analysis of media reports, public
pronouncements of leaders, international declarations,
conferences, policies and statements
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004: Gender in
the: National commitment and action indicators
3. National Composite Policy Index
 Country has strategy to integrate gender issues in HIV/AIDS
programs (can be articulated different ways)
 Country has laws and regulations to prevent discrimination
against women and girls in marriage, divorce, and property
inheritance
 Country has laws and regulations to protect women and girls
from rape and physical violence in all situations
 Country has strategy to ensure equitable access to treatment
for women
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004: Gender in
the: National programme and Behaviour
4. Percentage of people with advanced HIV infection
on ART
 Needs to be sex and age disaggregated
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004: Areas for
further consideration
5. Violence Against Women: Prevalence
 Percentage women 15-49 years, who ever had a partner, who
have ever experienced physical violence by an intimate partner
 The WHO Multi Country Study measures emotional, physical
and sexual violence by an intimate partner.
 The age range of 15-49 years old is used as it covers violence
during reproductive years including pregnancy-related
 Source: Special surveys WHO and CDC, VAW modules in DHS
 Frequency: every 4-5 years
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004: Areas for
further consideration
5. Violence against women: Measurement issues
 There isn't a generally accepted indicator to capture trends
 Complexities related to:
• Use of a direct indicator like prevalence or use of a proxy
(e.g. attitudes and norms – included in DHS)?
• What definition of violence should be used (physical, sexual,
both, emotional)?
• How should prevalence be measured (special surveys,
short module, surveillance, records)?
• Special issues related to confidentiality and safety?
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004: Areas for
further consideration
6.Sexual negotiation – a UNAIDS indicator already
developed (M&E guide, 2000)
• Percent of respondents who believe that if husband has STI,
wife can refuse sex or propose condoms
• Source: Population surveys, DHS, Behavioural surveillance
• More widely applicable than violence because it will include
women who not experience violence
• More relevant to generalized epidemic
Department of Gender and Women’s Health
MERG meeting, Oct. 25-26, 2004: Areas for
further consideration
7. MDG indicators for women's empowerment
• Ratio of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary
education
• Share of women in wage employment in non-agricultural sector
• Proportion of seats held by women in parliament
• Last two are not very good indicators for women's
empowerment, however they are MDG indicators that could be
used
Department of Gender and Women’s Health