When intimate partner violence against women and HIV collide: challenges for healthcare assessment and intervention.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) both constitute major public health issues that impact the overall health of women. IPV, including sexual assault, remains a persistent public health concern that has proven to be both difficult and significantly dangerous to prevent and treat. Based on data from UNAIDS more than 14.5 million women were living with HIV by the end of 2005. IPV and HIV are often interrelated. Exposure to IPV has been associated with an increased risk for contracting HIV and women who are living with HIV may be more likely to become victims of IPV.


CONCLUSIONS
comprehensive care and services have to be offered in the context of where women seek health care. Screening and effective intervention for IPV are essential components of HIV-related services including prevention programming, voluntary counseling and testing, and treatment. Including IPV-related services into the context of HIV-related services delivers the message that violence is not a taboo topic in the health-care setting.
Tufts
Kimberly Adams
KA
School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, 3124 Health Sciences Building, Norfolk, VA 23529-0500, USA. ktufts@odu.edu
Clements
Paul Thomas
PT
Wessell
Judy
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D053604:Forensic Nursing; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011902:Rape / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000628:therapy; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D016387:Women's Health