AEGiS-14IAC: The association between violence against women and HIV/AIDS.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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The association between violence against women and HIV/AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. LbPeG9058)

Namur J
Danya International, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, United States

ISSUES: A vast amount of research addresses violence against women and HIV/AIDS in women as individual issues, but little qualitative or quantitative research has been conducted pertaining to the intersection of these two public health issues. Despite the fact that "For millions of girls and women worldwide it is clear that violence, AIDS, and human rights abuses are experienced as three strands of the same traumatic reality," the intersection of HIV and violence continues to be ignored by the majority of healthcare providers and service organizations.

DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this research is to review available literature regarding the relationships between HIV and violence as they pertain to women, identify policy implications, and make recommendations for the future.

ISSUES: The intersection of these two epidemics - violence against women and HIV - is complex and multifactorial. Because of this complexity, the development and implementation of integrated programs is extremely challenging. While many times compounded with issues of poverty, gender inequality, lack of education, drug abuse, and lack of power, the association between women who are victims of violence and women who are HIV positive is present and demands immediate attention. The lives and health of women, their children, and communities are dependent on the response of advocates, policymakers, and active citizens. A shift in the cultural acceptance of men and women as equals is integral to creating positive change for HIV-positive women and women who are victims of violence.

RECOMMENDATIONS: - Increase funding for and expanded foci on research pertaining to the link between HIV and violence against women - Heighten involvement of healthcare providers - Empower women, financially, educationally, and physically - Improve health education - Develop cross-training initiatives for service providers - Improve awareness and decrease stigma associated with the epidemics

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Violence, Poverty, Research, Socioeconomic Factors, Human, Female, Male, ChildKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,hivseropositivity,violence,poverty,research,socioeconomicfactors,human,female,male,child

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LbPeG9058

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.