Microbicides are being heralded as a way to empower women and protect themselves against the HIV, giving women autonomy over their own sexual health. Yet, a recent study in Zambia found that men still yield influence over the use of microbicides due to the role of men as decision-makers of the household. 

Recently, actress Charlize Theron has supported the Choma Dreams Cafe, a place that aims to empower adolescent girls by providing them access to education, life skills, mentorship and HIV prevention tips. Theron believes that gender inequality and poverty play a major role in the spread of HIV and such programs can prevent new infections.

Kambiz Mehzari, Advisor to the Committee on AIDS Prevention and Control, noted that over one third of newly infected people are women. The infection used to be more prevalent in men but it has recently been infecting more and more women, Mehzari added.