10.1177/0897190003253956 ARTICLEAMY L. PAKYZ et alWOMEN ND HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Focus on Women

Nearly half of all HIV infections worldwide occur in women, and 20 % of AIDS cases in the United States are women. Dif-ferences inHIVvirologic and immunologicmarkers occur be-tween men and women and have been studied to determine the effect on disease progression, mortality, and treatment. Certain adverse clinical events associated with highly active retroviral therapy (HAART), such as drug rashes and lipodystrophy,may affectwomenmore thanmen.Depressive symptoms and low mental health quality of life occur com-monly in HIV-infected women and can influence whether a woman will use HAART. Substance abuse among HIV-infected women is common, which can play a factor in coinfection ratewith other infectiousdiseases andadherence to therapy.Also,HIV-infectedwomenare at risk for increased severity andprevalenceof humanpapillomavirus,which ca