“No good man will ever want me”. How structural social inequality increases women’s vulnerability to HIV transmission: a qualitative study from Bandung, Indonesia

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of HIV-positive women (n = 47).

Characteristics	Number
Point of entry for HIV test
Partner sick or died of HIV-related illness	12
Child sick or died of HIV-related illness	3
Had symptoms of HIV-related illness	11
Antenatal care	7
Screening at sex work venue	10
Others (gynecology clinic, red cross, voluntary testing)	4
Point of contact for interview
HIV outpatient clinic at provincial hospital	26
Municipal general hospital	5
Other HIV service providers	6
Community-based organizations	10
Sexual debut
With boyfriend	17
With husband	23
Harassment	6
Selling of virginity	1
History of partner violence
Experienced an abusive relationship	11

Figure 1. Venn diagram showing characteristics related to HIV transmission risk of the study participants. Possible HIV transmission risks were not identified in four participants.

Figure 2. The pathways of life events leading up to HIV exposure (under the blue box). Women have different events as starting point. The external factors (under the gray boxes) surrounding the life events are socioeconomic factors, gender norms, and government policies related to sex work and sexual and reproductive health.