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We conducted a mixed studies review to examine domestic violence and stigma against women affected by HIV. We searched Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO and EMBASE databases with no starting date limit. Studies that reported on experiences of stigma, discrimination, or domestic violence against women affected by HIV in any country were included. Because the review focused on HIV stigma-related violence, we only included studies that reported violence following an HIV diagnosis or at the time of HIV testing. A total 1056 records were screened; 89 articles were assessed for full text eligibility and 49 studies were selected for evidence synthesis. A convergent approach was used and study findings were analysed thematically. Four broad themes emerged: (1) being affected by HIV increases domestic violence, (2) supportive reactions from partners, (3) HIV stigma is associated with domestic violence, and (4) domestic violence associated with HIV-stigma is gendered. Research gaps identified included the burden of intersectional stigma of domestic violence and HIV, and the mediating role of HIV stigma in domestic violence for women with HIV, highlighting the need for further research in this area to reduce violence against women living with HIV.

The number of African-American women infected with HIV in Washington, D.C. is growing at an alarming rate. However, the perspectives of these women on engaging communities in the response to HIV/AIDS have been lacking in the literature. To fill this gap, in-depth interviews with 18 HIV-positive African-American women living in D.C. were conducted and analyzed using thematic network analysis. Three key themes emerged from these interviews: (1) the importance of the church in building HIV/AIDS community competence; (2) women’s interest in HIV/AIDS advocacy; and (3) the negative effects of stigma and limited social bonds on community engagement. We conclude by suggesting that more research is needed on the role of African-American women in community capacity building, as well as greater involvement of churches in HIV/AIDS responses.

Gender is well recognised as a critical consideration for HIV/AIDS organisations. Since the 1990s, HIV/AIDS policy-makers, donors, non-governmental organisations and transnational corporations have adopted gender mainstreaming as the process for integrating gender into development programmes and institutions. There is an increasing body of literature on the successes and challenges of practicing gender mainstreaming within organisational environments, however, little has been said about this practice within HIV/AIDS-specific organisational environments. As a contribution to this gap, this reflective paper aims to generate debate about some of the considerations for gender mainstreaming practice in HIV/AIDS organisations. It draws on the author's experience conducting a gender mainstreaming review with a southern African HIV/AIDS capacity-strengthening organisation, as well as a review of the development literature on gender mainstreaming. The paper looks at three key issues facing gender mainstreaming: (1) donor requirements on disaggregating data by sex; (2) connecting gender mainstreaming with the priorities of community HIV/AIDS organisations; and (3) the role of resistance to gender mainstreaming as neo-colonial. Preliminary understandings of these issues suggest that current approaches to gender mainstreaming may not be flexible enough to consider the multiple ways gender and HIV/AIDS interact in different sociocultural contexts. There is an urgent need for further debate and in-depth research into these issues, given the challenge they pose for HIV/AIDS organisations and donors that have chosen to make gender mainstreaming a criterion for HIV/AIDS funding.