Cultural barriers keep Kenyan and Ugandan women out of AIDS vaccine trials.

The participation by women in HIV/AIDS vaccine trials in Kenya and Uganda has been hampered by cultural inhibitions, scientists in the trials said recently. Trials of a vaccine that promises to provide a solution to HIV and AIDS are currently under way in Kenya and Uganda, but the participation of women has been low. The scientists said that this low participation by women, who are more vulnerable to infection than men, could hinder comprehensive conclusions on the efficacy of the vaccine.

Medical officers say that for comprehensive conclusions to the vaccine trials in both sexes, a substantial number of women have to participate. However, in African culture, a woman has little say about sexual matters in a family. The fact that participation in this trial revolves around the sexual life of a couple makes it difficult for women to become involved in it, said a member of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) in Uganda.

CAB comprises opinion leaders in Kampala and Entebbe where the HIV vaccine trial is taking place. They provide advice on matters related to vaccine recruitment and enrolment at the clinical trial. "We think that their husbands have not allowed them to come back because during the sensitisation seminars the turn-out was 50/50 for men and women," said Dr Fred Nakwagala.

Dr Nakwagala added that all four women enrolled for the Uganda trials were single mothers, who would have more freedom in making their own decisions than married women who usually need the consent of their husbands. Moreover, women also had the burden of looking after the home and so might not have enough time to report to the vaccine sites.

Source: The East African (Nairobi), 4 August 2003