Women and HIV - Part 4

Gender based violence (GBV)

Gender based violence is rooted in socio-economic inequality and can take many forms including emotional, mental and physical abuse. GBV can affect males and females but women and children are most vulnerable because they are seen as occupying inferior positions to men.

GBV & HIV

While women are biologically more vulnerable to HIV infection, it has been found that women who are exposed to GBV are also more likely to be HIV-positive because;

• Small tears in the vagina which allow HIV to enter the body can occur during the often violent act of rape (which can occur between strangers, in relationships and even between people who are married).
• Condom use cannot be effectively negotiated under some circumstances.
• As a result of GBV, women are more likely to have low self esteem and depression and might also engage in substance abuse - all of which can lead to higher sexual risk-taking.

It is not always the violence (e.g. rape) itself that exposes women to HIV. The results of the violence (e.g. low self esteem) can also put women at risk of HIV infection.

Violence against women is the patriarchal social order in the country and the inequalities especially in regards to how a girl and a boy are brought up. The root cause then becomes the power that creates serious inequalities between men and women. As such the violence against women is then used as a form of control and exertion of power over the perpetrators. 

Now it is therefore our role to play as society to ensure that women are not at risk to such factors that will at the end of the day make us vulnerable to diseases like HIV.