HIV prevalence is highest among divorced women in the Urals who are seeking new romantic relationships.

Divorced women aged 35 and up in Sverdlovsk Oblast represent a significant demographic at risk for HIV infection. These women tend to be careless in new romantic encounters, according to the chief physician of Sverdlovsk, who spoke on OTB's 'Accent' program.

, and Administrator

2025 June 11 . 6:46 PM

2 min read

Divorced women aged 35 and over in the Sverdlovsk Region are identified as a high-risk population... — Divorced women aged 35 and over in the Sverdlovsk Region are identified as a high-risk population for HIV infection, according to a program titled 'Focus' on Channel 1. This assertion was made by the chief doctor of the Sverdlovsk region, who cited a casual approach to new romantic relationships among this demographic as a key factor.

HIV prevalence is highest among divorced women in the Urals who are seeking new romantic relationships.

In the region of Sverdlovsk Oblast, it's the older, divorced women who are unwittingly falling into the high-risk group for HIV transmission. This concerning trend was highlighted by Dr. Angelica Podymova, the chief physician at the Sverdlovsk Oblast AIDS Center, during an episode of "Accent" on OTV.

"The statistics are alarming," Dr. Podymova said, "In the case of women, 80% of HIV transmissions occur via sexual contact, with 4 out of 5 recently diagnosed patients falling into the 35+, 45+, and even 55+ age brackets. These women tend to be lackadaisical about safeguarding their relationships, and in light of the rising divorce rate, it's crucial to prioritize safety."

To curb the growing issue, specialists from the AIDS Center propose an innovative approach during their preventive discussions with students. Instead of merely urging the students to get tested, they encourage them to bring their parents as well.

"We've launched a program targeting students from vocational schools and universities," Dr. Podymova explained, "I love it when, following our seminars, students arrive at our mobile testing units accompanied by their parents. Sometimes it's the parents who show up without the kids, but they admit that their adult children urged them to do so. That's what strong parent-child relationships look like – when children become responsible adults and still prioritize their parents' welfare."

Elena Vladimirova, Ekaterinburg

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The alarming statistics show that 80% of HIV transmissions among women in Sverdlovsk Oblast occur via sexual contact, with a high percentage of recently diagnosed patients falling into the older age brackets, particularly those aged 35 and above.
In light of the rising divorce rate, the need for mental-health, sexual-health, health-and-wellness, and womens-health education and safety measures cannot be overstated, especially for older, divorced women who find themselves in high-risk groups.
To combat the growing issue, specialists from the Sverdlovsk Oblast AIDS Center are proposing innovative prevention strategies, such as a program inviting students to bring their parents for testing, promoting further discussion and collaboration on matters of health and wellness.