Women are more vulnerable to HIV infection than men, but men remain more vulnerable as regards the access to medical services than women, says the study “Gender Vulnerability to HIV Infection in Moldova” made by the Center for Health Policy and Analysis. The survey covered a sample of 1,969 persons from towns and villages, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Stela Bivol, consultant at the Center, the men and women gave different answers to the questions concerning the access to medical services. 53.8% of the surveyed man and 64.3% of the women said they have health policy. 49.2% of the men and 75.6% of the women said they consulted the doctor during the last 12 months. 29.7% of the men and 38.9% of the women said they needed medical assistance, but did not contact the doctor. “Such a situation can be explained by the fact that the women do not have time or money, while the men avoid going to the doctor. 1% of the men said they are afraid that someday may see them going to the doctor; 11% of the men and 8.5% of the women do not trust the doctors; 3.5% of the men and 3.2% of the women cannot leave the home without supervision, while 50% of the men and 37.7% of the women considered that the health problem was not so serious,”Stela Bivol said. The gender norms in Moldova show that the society knows that the women and men have the same tights as regards education and work. At the same time, the society is traditionalist and patriarchal as regards the woman's role in the family, the authors of the study say. They consider that the level of education and the economic dependence are not factors of vulnerability to HIV in Moldova.