The intersection of intimate partner violence against women and HIV/AIDS: a review

Abstract

The objective of this study was to review original research on the intersection of violence against women by intimate partners and risk for HIV infection and highlight opportunities for new research and programme development. Seventy-one articles presenting original, peer-reviewed research conducted with females aged 12 years and older in heterosexual relationships during the past decade (1998–2007) were reviewed. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they addressed intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and HIV/AIDS as mutual risk factors. The prevalence of IPV and HIV infection among women varies globally, but females remain at elevated risk for both IPV and sexually transmitted/HIV infection, independently and concurrently. Comparisons between sero-negative and -positive women varied by geographic region; African HIV-positive women reported higher rates of victimisation while findings were inconsistent for HIV-positive women in the USA. Studies among various populations support the existence of a temporally and biologically complex relationship between HIV risk, lifetime exposure to violence and substance use, which are further complicated by gender and sexual decision-making norms. A possible link between violence-related post traumatic stress disorder and comorbid depression on immunity to HIV acquisition and HIV disease progression warrants further investigation. Sexual risk related to IPV works through both male and female behaviour, physiological consequences of violence and affects women across the lifespan. Further physiological and qualitative research is needed on the mechanisms of enhanced transmission; prospective studies are critical to address issues of causality and temporality. Prevention efforts should focus on the reduction of male-perpetrated IPV and male HIV risk behaviours in intimate partnerships.

Prevalence and correlates of probable post-traumatic stress disorder and common mental disorders in a population with a high prevalence of HIV in Zimbabwe

“…Experiencing domestic violence has been found to be an important trauma type associated with PTSD and CMDs (Kaminer, Grimsrud, Myer, Stein, & Williams, 2008; Schumm, Briggs-Phillips, & Hobfoll, 2006). There is evidence showing high rates of PTSD among victims of domestic violence (Campbell et al, 2008; Dutton et al, 2006; Machtinger, Wilson, Haberer, & Weiss, 2012). Our results support findings that physical assault and interpersonal violence are common in a population with a high HIV prevalence (Davis, 2012; Kouyoumdjian et al, 2013).…”

The Syndemic Effects of Intimate Partner Violence, HIV/AIDS, and Substance Abuse on Depression among Low-Income Urban Women

“…Recent reviews of the literature revealed several mechanisms that link these women's health problems and empirical data have supported these associations. [5][6][7][8] Women who are forced to have sex with an HIV-positive partner could be exposed to infection, and living with violence or the fear of abuse by an intimate partner can limit women's ability to negotiate safe sex behaviors. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Conversely, women who are HIV-positive might experience abuse upon disclosure of their HIV status.…”

Mulher e negra: dupla vulnerabilidade às DST/HIV/aids

“…Outro aspecto a ser considerado é que quando a mulher solicita um exame de HIV, compartilha seu status sorológico com o parceiro, solicita o uso do preservativo na relação sexual com o parceiro fixo para prevenir doenças, ou quando precisa tomar decisões sobre uma gravidez até o momento em que busca tratamento para si ou para o parceiro ou para a prevenir a transmissão vertical do HIV para seu bebê, ela também pode ser alvo de violência por sua condição sorológica (Campbell et al, 2008). Santos et al (2009) verificaram que, embora apenas 2% das mulheres vivendo com HIV tenham relatado a violência sexual como categoria de exposição ao vírus, 22,1% dessas mulheres apresentam histórico de violência sexual alguma vez na vida, enquanto em mulheres soronegativas esse índice cai para 13,2%.…”