Men Transmit HIV to Women at More Than Three Times the Rate – Ghana AIDS Commission
The Ghana AIDS Commission says men living with HIV transmit the virus to women at more than three times the rate recorded among women transmitting it to men.
- 9.73% male-to-female HIV transmission index compared with 2.96% female-to-male transmission.
- Ghana recorded 13,951 new HIV infections in 2025, with women accounting for 63.8%.
- GAC targets reducing new HIV infections to fewer than 2,200 by 2030.
Men living with HIV transmit the virus to their female partners at more than three times the rate at which women living with HIV transmit it to men, according to the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).
The commission, citing 2023 data, said the male-to-female HIV transmission index stood at 9.73 per cent, compared with 2.96 per cent for female-to-male transmission. The national transmission index was 5.31 per cent.
The figures indicate a significantly higher rate of transmission from men living with HIV to women than from women living with the virus to men.
The Director of Technical Services at the GAC, Dr Fred Nana Poku, disclosed this at a capacity-building programme for media practitioners organised by the commission with funding support from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).
The programme sought to equip journalists with current information on Ghana’s HIV situation, emerging policy issues and effective approaches to HIV reporting and advocacy.
Women more susceptible to infection
Dr Poku explained that women continued to account for a larger proportion of HIV infections, citing biological and physiological factors that could increase their vulnerability during sexual intercourse.
He said about 80 per cent of HIV transmission occurred through sexual contact and explained that the anatomy of the female reproductive system could make women more susceptible to infection when exposed to HIV.
He also noted that women generally demonstrated better health-seeking behaviour than men, resulting in higher rates of HIV testing among women.
According to him, the data showed that HIV interventions should not focus exclusively on women but must also target men to reduce transmission.
HIV infections remain high
Data from the 2025 National HIV Estimates showed that Ghana recorded 13,951 new HIV infections in 2025.
Of that number, 5,051, representing 36.2 per cent, were males, while females accounted for 8,900 infections, or 63.8 per cent.
An estimated 38 new HIV infections were recorded each day among adults and children.
As of 2025, an estimated 337,435 people were living with HIV in Ghana. Females accounted for 221,707, representing 65.7 per cent, while males numbered 115,728, or 34.3 per cent.
The country also recorded 12,051 AIDS-related deaths in 2025, with 6,115 among females and 5,936 among males.
GAC sets 2030 targets
Dr Poku said the commission was targeting a reduction in new HIV infections to fewer than 2,200 by the end of 2030.
Other targets include ensuring that key populations have adequate access to HIV services and achieving 80 per cent comprehensive HIV knowledge among the general population.
He said the GAC would also intensify condom programming, including the deployment of condom vending machines, creating demand for condoms and improving access to them.
The commission also plans to expand access to biomedical HIV prevention tools, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), while ensuring that appropriate digital platforms and channels are available to the public.
Media urged to combat HIV stigma
The Director-General of the GAC, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, said the capacity-building programme provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the commission, the media and the AHF.
He said media reports, interviews and discussions had played an important role in increasing awareness about HIV prevention, encouraging testing and treatment adherence, and challenging stigma and discrimination.
Dr Akanbong urged journalists to prioritise accurate, evidence-based reporting and help counter misinformation and disinformation about HIV.
The Country Programme Manager of the AHF, Dr Ekua E. Houphouët, said stigma remained one of the major barriers to ending AIDS.
She cautioned that the way HIV was reported could either deepen stigma and discrimination or promote greater understanding and dignity for people living with the virus.
Dr Houphouët encouraged journalists to help change public perceptions by highlighting that HIV is a manageable chronic condition and that people living with the virus can lead long, healthy and productive lives when they have access to appropriate treatment and care.
