HIV is more likely for women suffering from intimate partner violence

Women who experience recent intimate partner violence are three times more likely to contract HIV in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa

McGill University researchers found that physical or sexual intimate partner violence in the past year was associated with recent HIV contraction – where women are facing an intersecting epidemic of intimate partner violence and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, intimate partner violence (IPV) could also pose barriers for women in accessing HIV care and remaining in care while living with the virus.

Professor Mathieu Maheu-Giroux, a Canada Research Chair in Population Health Modeling, said: “Worldwide, more than one in four women experience IPV in their lifetime.”

One in four women experience IPV, globally

Among women living with HIV, those experiencing IPV were 9% less likely to achieve viral load suppression – the ultimate step in HIV treatment.

The study emphasised a considerable overlap between violence against women and the HIV epidemics in some of the highest-burdened countries.

Maheu-Giroux continued: “Sub-Saharan Africa is among one of the regions in the world with the highest prevalence of both IPV and HIV. We wanted to examine the effects of intimate partner violence on recent HIV infections and women’s access to HIV care in this region.”

How do we eliminate gender-based violence?

Professor Maheu-Giroux said: “The 2021 UN General Assembly, attended and supported by the Government of Canada, adopted the Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS with bold new global targets for 2025.

“This encompasses a commitment to eliminate all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including IPV, as a key enabler of the HIV epidemic. Improving our understanding of the relationships between IPV and HIV is essential to meet this commitment.”

Salome Kuchukhidze, a PhD candidate studying epidemiology and the lead author of the research, added: “Given the high burden of IPV worldwide, including in Canada, the need to stem the mutually reinforcing threats of IPV and HIV on women’s health and well-being is urgent.”