Intimate partner violence is linked to less HIV testing uptake among high-risk, HIV-negative women in Atlanta

ABSTRACT

Increased risk of HIV acquisition among intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors underscores the need for regular HIV testing, but IPV-associated shame, stigma, and control may hinder uptake. Between March and November 2014, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 79 HIV-negative, high-risk women aged 18–50 in Atlanta, Georgia, to explore whether IPV experience was associated with less uptake of HIV testing, and fewer motivations and more reported barriers to HIV testing uptake. Psychological and physical and/or sexual abuse was significantly associated with less past-year HIV testing (p = .022 and p = .030, respectively), longer time since last HIV test (r = 0.282, p = .012, and r = 0.282, p = .012, respectively), and more reported barriers to HIV testing (r = 0.406, p = .004, and r = 0.389, p = .006). While requiring further validation, these preliminary findings suggest IPV survivors need additional support to access HIV testing services.

KEYWORDS:

• Intimate partner violence
• HIV
• violence against women
• HIV testing
• gender-based violence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Emory Center for AIDS Research [NIH/NIAID P30 AI050409-10].