EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH DATA INSIGHTS
Review Article
Dec 26, 2025 56 20

Association Between Gender-Based violence and HIV Risk in Sub-Saharan African Women: A Scoping Review

Vivian Ukamaka Nwokedi 1 * ,
Doreen Mensah 2,
Wonderful Oluwatoyin Anosike 3,
Chidinma Lorretta Gab-Obinna 4,
Augustine B Nyumah 5,
Ayodeji John Awoyemi 6
1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria2 Department of Computing and Information Technology, College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA3 Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK4 Biomedical Laboratory Science Department, Kingston University London, UK 5 Department of General Medicine, Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Medical Center, Epe, Lagos, Nigeria* Corresponding Author
Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 2(1), 2026, ehdi024, https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17649
Publication date: Dec 26, 2025
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are critical public health issues in Sub-Saharan Africa, disproportionately affecting women. Gender-based violence (GBV)—including intimate partner violence and sexual assault—fuels HIV transmission via trauma, coercion, and healthcare barriers. This syndemic demands urgent, evidence-based solutions to break the cycle of risk.
Objectives: This study aims to explore the prevalence, types, and socio-cultural, economic, and power-related factors linking GBV to HIV risk among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, and to assess the effectiveness of integrated interventions addressing both issues.
Methodology: In carrying out this review, a scoping review design was employed. PubMed, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed studies conducted across Sub-Saharan Africa focusing on association of GBV and HIV risks. Data was extracted on the prevalence of HIV cases linked to GBV, and interventions addressing such prevalence. A thematic synthesis was used to identify common trends and gaps in the literature.
Findings: This study found GBV prevalence rates ranging from 3.4–89.3% across included studies, with significant geographic and population-based variations. GBV was identified as a major risk factor for HIV, particularly in settings with high economic dependence and gender inequality. Integrated interventions combining HIV care and GBV services were found to improve health outcomes, though access remains limited in rural areas.
Conclusion: This study underscores the urgent need for integrated, multi-sectoral approaches to address both GBV and HIV. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and the scalability of successful interventions in diverse settings. Policymakers must prioritize these intersections to reduce the burden on women’s health in Sub-Saharan Africa.

KEYWORDS

Gender-Based Violence HIV Intimate Partner Violence Sub-Saharan Africa Public Health Women’s Health

CITATION (Vancouver)

Nwokedi VU, Mensah D, Anosike WO, Gab-Obinna CL, Nyumah AB, Awoyemi AJ. Association Between Gender-Based violence and HIV Risk in Sub-Saharan African Women: A Scoping Review. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights. 2026;2(1):ehdi024. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17649
APA
Nwokedi, V. U., Mensah, D., Anosike, W. O., Gab-Obinna, C. L., Nyumah, A. B., & Awoyemi, A. J. (2026). Association Between Gender-Based violence and HIV Risk in Sub-Saharan African Women: A Scoping Review. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 2(1), ehdi024. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17649
Harvard
Nwokedi, V. U., Mensah, D., Anosike, W. O., Gab-Obinna, C. L., Nyumah, A. B., and Awoyemi, A. J. (2026). Association Between Gender-Based violence and HIV Risk in Sub-Saharan African Women: A Scoping Review. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 2(1), ehdi024. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17649
AMA
Nwokedi VU, Mensah D, Anosike WO, Gab-Obinna CL, Nyumah AB, Awoyemi AJ. Association Between Gender-Based violence and HIV Risk in Sub-Saharan African Women: A Scoping Review. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights. 2026;2(1), ehdi024. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17649
Chicago
Nwokedi, Vivian Ukamaka, Doreen Mensah, Wonderful Oluwatoyin Anosike, Chidinma Lorretta Gab-Obinna, Augustine B Nyumah, and Ayodeji John Awoyemi. "Association Between Gender-Based violence and HIV Risk in Sub-Saharan African Women: A Scoping Review". Epidemiology and Health Data Insights 2026 2 no. 1 (2026): ehdi024. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17649
MLA
Nwokedi, Vivian Ukamaka et al. "Association Between Gender-Based violence and HIV Risk in Sub-Saharan African Women: A Scoping Review". Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, vol. 2, no. 1, 2026, ehdi024. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17649

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