Links Between GBV and HIV

1
Links Between GBV and HIV
2
Women at Risk of HIV Infection

• Studies from Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Africa
  show that the risk of HIV infection among women
  who have experienced violence is up to three
  times greater than for women who have not
  experienced violence

3
Violence Increases the Likelihood of HIV
Infection for Women

• Forced or coercive sex with an HIV-infected
  partner
• Girls who experience rape are more vulnerable to
  acquiring HIV because of immature genitalia

4
Continued..

• Inability or limited ability of women with
  abusive partners to negotiate for save sex
• Abusive men are more likely to engage in
  high-risk behavior, such as having multiple
  partners

5
Continued.

• Experience of physical or sexual abuse during
  childhood leads to risky behaviors
• Abused girls are more likely to have sex at an
  early age, multiple sex partners, use alcohol or
  drugs, or engage in transactional sex

6
Continued.

• Exploitation of girls and women by men (often
  older) including transactional sex and
  trafficking
• Violence and the threat of violence is used as
  means of control keeps women from leaving
  relationships

7
Continued

• Girls who marry at a young age to older men are
  at a higher risk for acquiring HIV
• Some men believe the myth that having sex with
  girls/babies will cure one from HIV/AIDS

8
Violence Related to HIV Services

• Fear of violence impedes/prevents women from
  accessing services
• Women may not seek HIV testing
• Women may not disclose their HIV status to partner

9
Continued..

• In many cases, women are blamed for bringing HIV
  into the household
• A WHO review of VCT studies showed that many
  women did not disclose test results to their
  partners. Among women who did disclose results,
  up to 45 experienced a violent reaction from
  their partners.

10

• Partners may limit womens ability to access
  treatment due to household and economic control
• Women who may obtain ARVs often are forced to
  give them to their partners