Abuse Among People Living with HIV/AIDS

There are documented links between intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV/AIDS. For instance, women in relationships where IPV is present are four times more likely to get sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in general, including HIV. When someone is in a sexually-abusive relationship, s/he is two to ten times more likely to get an STI. This could be because:

• the abuser might be forcing the victim to have sex with an infected partner (him/herself or an outside partner);
• the victim might not be able to engage in safer sex or safer sex negotiations with the abuser;
• the abuser might be practicing risky sexual behaviors with other partners, which could put the victim at risk; and/or
• the abuser could be luring or forcing the victim to participate in risky sexual behaviors.¹

To learn more about the links between domestic violence and HIV, you can go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

¹ This information has been adapted from information compiled by the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence’s “Domestic Violence and HIV/AIDS” page.