Journal of HIV for Clinical and Scientific Research ISSN: 2455-3786 DOI CC By 018 Citation: Bah YM (2017) HIV/AIDS Risk for Young Female Petty Traders at Car Parks. J HIV Clin Sci Res 4(1): 018-031. DOI: http://doi.org/10.17352/2455-3786.000124 Clinical Group Abstract Though the HVI/AIDS prevalence rate in The Gambia is one of the lowest in the sub-region, the disease and its associated effects has always been a concern both to the government, non-governmental organizations, professionals, families, communities, development partners, etc. Over the decade a number of studies have been conducted in the areas of its mode of transmission, prevention, impacts, etc. However, there is none on the disease and the mobile population. The young female petty traders in the car parks are assumed to be at high risk of infection due to numerous factors including their contact with highly mobile populations. The purpose of this study was to examine their risk of infection by long- distance drivers. Due to the sensitivity of the topic, only twenty were willing to participate. The study was mainly centered on six fundamental areas namely; level of knowledge of the disease, perception toward the disease, level of knowledge of the causes and modes of transmission of the disease, level of knowledge of the preventive methods, level of knowledge of the disease management and treatment methods, and petty traders relationship with long-distance drivers. Because of limited resources and participants’ reluctance to participate during first contact, the study took approximately seven months plus. Well-structured questionnaires were used to collect the data from the participants in three key car parks. The data was presented and analyzed using tables and percentage. The results among others revealed that there is high level of awareness of the disease. However, there is a mixed attitude toward the disease, the most worrisome being some participants seeing it as a punishment from God to the victims. Despite the majority being concern about being positive, they disassociated themselves with the seeking of medical treatment in case of being infected because of the fear of stigma and exclusion. The issue of herbalist being able to treat the disease was highlighted. Intimate relationships which include visitations exist between the young girls and long-distance drivers. Research Article HIV/AIDS Risk for Young Female Petty Traders at Car Parks Yahya Muhammed Bah* University of the Gambia, School of Arts and Sciences, Brikama Campus, The Gambia, West Africa Received: 05 July, 2017; Accepted: 28 September, 2017; Published: 29 September, 2017 *Corresponding author: Yahya Muhammed Bah, University of The Gambia, School of Arts and Sciences, Brikama Campus, The Gambia, West Africa, E-mail: Keywords: Petty traders; Long-distance drivers; HIV/ AIDS; Risk; Long-distance https://www.peertechz.com Introduction At the end of 2015 in the world over, a total number of 36.7 million are living with HIV/AIDS [1]. Out of the same population 17.8 million are women 15 years and older while 2.3 million are adolescent girls and women constituting 60% of all young people living with HIV 15 to 24 years UN Women [2]. Sub-Sahara Africa bears the biggest burden with an estimated infection rate of 4.4% (nearly 1 in every 25 adults) constituting 70% of world victims, WHO [3]. The fact that the continent has prevalence rate of 4.4% should be a course for concern for all of us. Globally in 2015 there were approximately 2.1 million of new infection 150,000 of whom were children majority of whom reside in sub-Sahara Africa and were infected through their mothers either during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding, AVERT [4]. With 200 million people aged between 15 and 24 (the youth bracket), Africa has the youngest population in the world. The current trend indicates that this figure will double by 2045 [5]. Approximately, 70% of the African societies are under 30 years making it the world youngest continent with firm economic, social, political, health, etc. consequences, Regional Overview: Youth in Africa [6]. Adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years are highly at risk of HIV infection, accounting for 20% of new HIV infections among adults globally in 2015, UNAIDS [7]. This infection rate in the continent is worrying more especially when it comes to the females and the young ones who are more at disadvantaged than any given group. In majority of the societies more especially in the third world, women and children are the most vulnerable group due to many factors namely, unequal cultural treatments including harmful traditions, social and economic status, inequitable laws, policies, etc. thus contributing to their becoming the poorest of the poor and above all, they are sometimes remarkably excluded from most economic, social and political activities that does not only denied them some of their fundamental rights but equally making them more dependent on the male folk even for their basic needs, AVERT [8].