Expanding the pool of Independent Investigators in Implementation Science in Nigeria throug h HIV research training (EXPAND)

Institute Of Human Virology, Abuja

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Women and girls constituted 53% of all people living with HIV, and nearly 2/3 of all new HIV infections in Africa were among women and girls in 2022. Prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among the general population of women aged 15 to 49 years in the WHO African region is ~33%, and as high as 63% for those who are living with HIV. Women and Girls Living with HIV (WGLHIV) experience significant risk for new-onset IPV or its intensification when they disclose their HIV status to their male partners. Besides HIV, the risk of IPV is higher for women if they are pregnant, sex workers, or adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and we have chosen to focus on these vulnerable, hardly reached WLGHIV in Northern Nigeria (Sokoto, Northwest Zone and Abuja, North Central Zone) for this study. There is less IPV evidence in Northern Nigeria as compared to the South; this allows us to better understand and inform IPV service delivery in the Northern socio-cultural context. Our SWANN study is a cross-sectional, mixed methods study which will inform changes in IPV tools and services; we aim to further center survivors and then adopt a survivor-provider co-creation approach to revising IPV tools. These tools, which inform the “what” and “how” GBV/IPV services are delivered, were developed by multilateral and bilateral organizations as well as local NGOs, however, to date, there has not been input or evaluation by GBV/IPV survivors. To increase the evidence base and survivor-centeredness of IPV services for WGLHIV in Nigeria, our approach will be informed as follows: Aim 1: To assess the prevalence of all types of IPV among vulnerable women and girls living with HIV in North-Central and North-West Nigeria. Aim 2: To explore the range of IPV and IPV service experiences among vulnerable women and girls living with HIV in North-Central and North-West Nigeria Aim 3: To increase survivor-centeredness of existing tools for intimate partner violence services in HIV programs in Nigeria The proposed study is designed to center and address the needs of women and girls living with HIV who are highly vulnerable to IPV in Nigeria’s HIV program. The structured review of GBV/IPV tools is expected to strengthen, and better integrate structured IPV services for WGLHIV in HIV programming. Our established partnerships with legal, women’s and state agencies, organizations and advocacy groups will help ensure applicability to local legal and policy context, influencing state and federal policy to better protect women at risk.