Resources

Throughout the world, people who inject drugs experience stigmatization, vulnerability, marginalization and higher risk of acquiring HIV. The situation is even worse for women who inject drugs as detailed in this Policy Brief. In addition to highlighting the importance for services specifically responding to the needs of women who inject drugs, the...

Misinformation, stigma and discrimination contribute to the promotion of ideas that any type of drug use during pregnancy will result in harm to the foetus. Criminalisation, stigma and discrimination associated with illicit drug use during pregnancy also results in many women keeping their pregnancy concealed and prevents them from accessing a...

Despite the importance of women living with HIV (WLHIV) engaging in fertility plan discussions with their healthcare providers (HCPs), little research exists. This study explored perceptions surrounding fertility plan discussions between WLHIV and their HCPs in western Ethiopia, from the perspectives of both women and providers

This technical guide is intended to support countries in their efforts to increase their capacity to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in prison, and achieve the ultimate goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, “leaving no one behind”.

UNAIDS report on the global AIDS pandemic 2020  shows that w omen and girls in sub-Saharan Africa continue to be the most affected and accounted for 59% of all new HIV infections in the region in 2019, with 4500 adolescent girls and young women between 15 and 24 years old becoming infected with HIV every week. Young women accounted for 24% of new...

Psychosocial factors were independent atherosclerotic risk factors among Women Living With HIV (WLWH). Research is needed to determine whether interventions for depression and psychosocial stress can mitigate the increased risk of atherosclerosis for WLWH.

Communities of people living with HIV across the world refused to accept the slow pace of progress against HIV. Local peer support groups grew into national and international activist movements, demanding their right to the highest attainable standard of health, and to be treated with dignity and respect.

This community-led study in Malawi, Uganda and Zambia sought to understand the factors that facilitate women living with HIV to adhere to treatment and return to health facilities for routine care, from their own perspective.

This qualitative study examines women's experiences with antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention in Option B+ care among 39 pregnant and lactating women in Bwaila Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi. One of the most important factors influencing adherence and retention was the strength of women’s support systems.

Malawi has undertaken a "test-and-treat" approach to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, known as Option B+. This approach offers all pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) regardless of CD4 count or clinical stage. A cross-sectional, qualitative study explored experiences surrounding Option...

This doctoral research project explores the experiences of women growing older with HIV in London, United Kingdom. It has a specific focus on women and the gendered experiences of ageing with HIV, in terms of community, social support, and health care needs. The research uses a feminist methodology along with participatory and narrative methods.

This report shares the findings from a multi-stage review of the access women have to anti-retroviral therapy (ART). This review is critical in understanding key barriers women face when accessing HIV treatment and ways to address them in order for women to receive the care they need. 

This resource explains how gender-based disparities in HIV prevention and care should be addressed by gender-responsive policies and programs. It uses a socio-ecological approach to understand existing gender differences in HIV risk and how to create effective health care measures to prevent women from infection. 

This report provides general recommendations to health workers and activists on how to create a fostering environment of women and girls living with HIV; how to strengthen the health system by making more comprehensive sexuality programs available; how to ensure meaningful participation of women and girls living with HIV in policy; and how to...

In this report, research was conducted in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Ukraine with policy influencers, women and girls living with HIV, and male partners of women living with HIV to explore issues of sexual and reproductive health needs of individuals, family planning, maternal care, and more. Findings revealed that many challenges women and girls living...

At the pivotal International AIDS Society Conference in Vancouver, Canada from 19-22 July, the focus was on HIV care and treatment as new data highlights the effectiveness of earlier treatment initiation. Commissioned by UN Women, AVAC, ATHENA network and Salamander Trust presented initial findings from a new global review of the status of access...

Journal of the International AIDS Society This article examines the role that gender inequality plays in limiting vertical HIV transmission (PMTCT) programmatic progress. The authors highlight a growing body of evidence that suggests that gender inequality, including gender-based violence, is a key obstacle to better outcomes related to all four...

This article examines the association between the number of sexual partners and the risk of HIV seropositivity among men and women presenting for HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in northern Tanzania. Among women presenting for VCT, the number of partners is strongly associated with rates of seropositivity; however, even women reporting...

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) shows that the number of people on HIV antiretroviral treatment (ART) in low- and middle-income countries more than tripled to 1.3 million in December 2005 from 400 000 in December 2003. Charting the final progress of the "3 by...

Every year, HIV/AIDS causes the death of an increasing number of women. In 2002 over one million women around the world died of AIDS. Access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) could reduce this figure drastically. ART has turned HIV into a much more manageable chronic condition which may no longer be a death sentence. However, ICW is keen to point...