title: Microfinance and HIV/AIDS prevention: assessing its promise and limitations.
abstract: Researchers increasingly argue that poverty and gender inequality exacerbate the spread of HIV/AIDS and that economic empowerment can therefore assist in the prevention and mitigation of the disease, particularly for women. This paper critically evaluates such claims. First, we examine the promises and limits of integrated HIV/AIDS prevention and microfinance programs by examining the available evidence base. We then propose future research agendas and next steps that may help to clear current ambiguities about the potential for economic programs to contribute to HIV/AIDS risk reduction efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, 3333 California Street, LHTS #455, San Francisco, CA 94143-0612, USA. shari.dworkin@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Shari L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dworkin
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blankenship
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D011209:Power, Psychological; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014933:Women's Rights / Q000191:economics*