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Positively Safe:
THE INTERSECTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & HIV/AIDS
 HIV can affect anyone. While the majority of new HIV diagnoses occur in gay men, 1 in 5 individuals living with HIV are women.5
 Research on HIV has come a long way since the 80s and 90s. Today individuals living with HIV can live long healthy lives by taking antiretroviral medications, a combination of drugs that work to suppress the production of the virus. For those living with HIV it is important to begin working with a doctor to immediately after a diagnosis to determine the correct medication regimen.
 87% women living with HIV acquired the virus while in a monogamous relationships through sexual contact with their partner.5
IT’S ALL ABOUT POWER & CONTROL.
 HIV can be used as a tactic for power and control.
 In addition to understanding the use of power and control by an abusive partner, we must also
recognize when we use power and control as advocates and work to promote and honor the autonomy of survivors. Learn how power and control can appear in domestic violence shelters and services with the Abusive Power & Control within the Domestic Violence Shelter Wheel.6
 Check out this HIV and Domestic Violence Power & Control Wheel developed by AIDS Alabama and the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence.7
LEARN ABOUT TESTING FOR HIV/AIDS.
 There are three types of testing for HIV: antibody screening test, antibody/antigen testing, and home testing. Be mindful of the language that is used while testing for HIV. Language should be free of shame, guilt, and stigma. Be supportive of survivors and reassure them.
 Learn more about National HIV Testing Day and HIV/AIDS testing locations by visiting AIDS.gov.8
 Check out NNEDV’s interview with Sojourner House on how advocates can conduct trauma- informed testing with survivors.9
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR DISCLOSING HIV/AIDS STATUS OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE?
Unfortunately, intimate partner sexual violence is not widely understood. For instance, North Carolina was the last state to criminalize marital rape in 1993. There are still exemptions in some states that assume a wife’s consent because of the marital contract.
Create by: The National Network to End Domestic Violence Positively Safe Project: The Intersection of Domestic Violence & HIV/AIDS © December 2016
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