Gender-based violence and HIV among women: assessing the evidence

More interventions needed to address gender-based violence and HIV

Produced by: American Foundation for AIDS Research (Amfar) , 2005

This issues brief from AMFAR reviews the evidence that links between gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV among women. The brief highlights how females account for 76 per cent of HIV infections among young people aged 15 to 24, due to a number of biological, behavioural and social reasons, with GBV receiving increased attention. GBV can be a cause of HIV infection, and emerging evidence connects the rapidly expanding HIV epidemic and GBV, especially among young women. Moreover, GBV can be a consequence of HIV as risks associated with disclosure of HIV infection often deter women from revealing their HIV status.