Developing an effective HIV/AIDS response for women and girls in the U.S. Virgin Islands

This article focuses on specific culturally and socially based gender issues that enhance HIV risk and complicate access to care and services for women and girls in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Literature review and interviews with clinicians providing HIV care in the USVI were used to examine causative factors for the high HIV prevalence rates among USVI women. Although the USVI population is almost evenly split between men (48%) and women (52%), females represent 46% of all USVI residents living with HIV and 33% of all people with AIDS. A primary barrier to adequate HIV/AIDS care for these women and girls is the insufficient number of clinicians available to provide that care. A primary barrier to adequate HIV prevention is the fact that, although the USVI are a territory of the United States, their cultural practices are those of the Caribbean. Thus, HIV programs developed on the U.S. mainland are often ineffective in USVI. A lack of consistent and accurate reporting to HIV/AIDS surveillance staff on the part of clinicians also hinders early trend detection efforts, as well as effective HIV management. Strategies to address HIV among USVI women and girls include: 1) increasing awareness of issues that impact them negatively and increase their vulnerability to HIV, 2) developing and funding delivery of effective, culturally appropriate HIV-related interventions, and 3) increasing the size and technical capacity of the USVI clinical workforce. Simultaneously updating current health care professionals on best practices for HIV screening, treatment, risk-reduction counseling and support could also substantially strengthen the USVI's response to HIV among women and girls.