(107) Women's Autonomy in Choosing Methods for HIV Prevention

Friday, August 26, 2022

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM CEST

Location: Hall C

Publication Number: 438

Presenting Author(s)

Raissa Carolina Fonseca Candido, BPharm
– MSc. , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Co-Author(s)

Ana Carolina Mayrink
– Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
Cristiane Aparecida A. Menezes de Pádua
– Professor, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Background: HIV/AIDS still affects millions of people in the world. Strategies are needed to prevent the virus dissemination and to decrease stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion among people living with HIV (PLWHIV). Methods for HIV prevention are offered unequally to men and women and there are few interventions focused on expanding women's autonomy in choosing the method to be used.

Objectives: To assess women's autonomy in choosing HIV prevention methods, and related barriers and facilitators.

Methods: We conducted a literature review in January 2021 using the databases PubMed, Lilacs, and Web of Science, published between 2011 and January 2021, without language restriction. Studies were included if they presented primary data (qualitative or quantitative) for women or trans women and examined at least one of the following information: (i) HIV and/or HIV Prevention Methods awareness; (ii) barriers and facilitators to choose HIV Prevention Methods for women.

Results: We included 9 studies (5 qualitative and 4 cross-sectional studies) published between 2011 and 2020, involving 44,905 women. The participants showed some knowledge about HIV and its prevention methods. The main barriers identified were partner influence, relationship idealization, social stigma whereas the facilitating factors included education level, wealth index, participation in decision making, a feeling of empowerment. These results show that women’s sexual autonomy is not based on their sexual rights but is rather related to and dependent on partners' choices and desires, especially when it comes to prevention methods. Women’s sexual autonomy is rather related and dependent on various aspects of life, evidently including not only partners' choices and desires, but also the gap between women and the knowledge about HIV, preventive methods, and safe sex practices.

Conclusions: Findings suggest the importance of improving and implementing gender equality policies and encouraging sex education in schools and at home to empower women in choosing and using HIV preventive methods.