cover image Womans HIV Sourcebook

Womans HIV Sourcebook

Patricia Kloser, Jan M. Craig. Taylor Publishing Company (TX), $19.95 (170pp) ISBN 978-0-87833-863-4

More than 10 years into the AIDS epidemic, women are the group with the fastest-growing rate of HIV infection. In part this is because, as the receptive partner, they are biologically more vulnerable to the virus. And yet, ``women are still largely regarded as vectors of transmission,'' Kloser and Craig note. They believe that throughout the pandemic, ``more concern [has been] directed to women as mothers, as caregivers, as sexual partners, than as individuals with distinct needs.'' They note that by the year 2000, more than 13 million women will have been infected by HIV and about four million will have died. Their book maps out the basic information women need to know in order to deal with HIV, from executing a living will and coping with discrimination to managing stress and home care. The authors use first-person accounts from women of all backgrounds to make the point that this is an equal-opportunity infection, and recommend testing as ``the first step toward ensuring the highest possible quality and quantity of life.'' Also included are appendices with a directory of support services and a quick reference chart of HIV-related gynecologic conditions. Testing is the first step for women; this book, with its compassionate and practical information, is the second. (Oct.)