I don't know about the 98% but it's correct that in the western world, the percentage is shifted more towards men. We actually discussed this in a lecture once. In the western world, heterosexual couples tend to use condoms more often than homosexual men, because of the pregnancy risks. In Africa, condom usage is lower because of several factors. This results in an about 50:50 split of HIV cases there and a higher prevalence of the disease in men in western countries.
Or at least that's the theory.