Dual Epidemics: Intimate Partner Violence and HIV in Sub-Saharan African Women

Abstract

Socio-cultural practices and norms that promote violence such as rape, spousal abuse, and domestic violence significantly increase the probability of HIV infection among women. The intersection of gender-based violence and infectious disease transmission represents one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time, particularly in resource-limited settings where both epidemics flourish. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), encompassing physical violence (throwing objects, slapping, punching, weapon threats, kicking, dragging, strangling, hair pulling), emotional violence (insults, humiliation, threats, intimidation, economic control), and sexual violence (forced sex, unwanted sexual acts, reproductive coercion), is a critical public health concern gaining global attention [1-4]. These forms of violence often co-occur and create cumulative trauma that extends far beyond the immediate physical injuries, affecting women's mental health, economic stability, and overall quality of life.

The pervasiveness of IPV is staggering, with one in three women worldwide having experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime [5]. This global burden translates to approximately 736 million women and girls aged 15 years and older who have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at least once in their lives. This phenomenon is particularly endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, where most women are at substantial risk of experiencing IPV [5]. The regional variation in prevalence rates reflects complex interactions between cultural norms, economic conditions, legal frameworks, and gender inequality. In some communities, rates of lifetime IPV experience exceed 50%, creating a normalized culture of violence that becomes intergenerational and self-perpetuating [31].

Citation

Bisrat M, Alemayehu W, Alayu KS, Amdemariam BM, Beyene E, Deverapal M, et al. Dual Epidemics: Intimate Partner Violence and HIV in Sub Saharan African Women. WebLog J Infect Dis. wjid.2026.d0302. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19549992