Revealing how women in many developing countries do not have the right to own or inherit property, this monograph clarifies the role of tenure security in protecting against and mitigating the effects of HIV amongst women and domestic violence. Exploring these linkages in Amajuba, South Africa, and Iganga, Uganda, this qualitative work based on peer-reviewed scientific studies and personal interviews with native women argues that property ownership, while not easily linked to women’s ability to prevent HIV infection, can nonetheless mitigate the impact of AIDS and enhance a woman’s ability to leave a violent situation. An invaluable resource for policymakers, western donors, nongovernmental organization workers, and academics, this analysis details the current land reform efforts as well as HIV/AIDS and domestic-violence policies in both countries, in Africa as a whole, and beyond.

This review paper synthesizes the current information available on HIV status disclosure in terms of rates barriers and outcomes of HIV status disclosure among HIV-infected individuals. Particular emphasis is placed on women's experiences with disclosure to sexual partners. The report also aims to identify major barriers and describe programmatic and policy strategies that have been adopted to address these barriers and support women through the disclosure process.

As a matter of fact, there is a need for understanding the stories behind domestic violence and HIV/AIDS in women. Many research studies focus on the interaction between domestic violence and risky behaviours for HIV/AIDS infection and have ignored the experiences of women who are caught up in these situations. This work was aimed at exploring the experiences of HIV-positive women who are victims of domestic violence and tries to understand their feelings regarding the HIV status and the violence. Factors that contribute to the spread of HIV in women are also explored. It is argued that domestic violence and other socio-culturalfactors are the driving force behind the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in women. These factors also contribute to the continuation of dominant themes of domestic violence. The emerging stories of participants revealed that cultural factors situate women in positions that limit their ability to make decisions in the relationship, including sexual decisions. In the context of domestic violence, it not only becomes difficult for women to cope with their HIV diagnosis, but their positive HIV status also leads to the continuation of domestic violence.

A follow-up to the Nelson Mandela Foundation's 2002 national household survey of HIV/AIDS prevalence in South Africa, this 2005 report seeks to provide further understanding of the HIV pandemic. Using data that tested for HIV incidence rather than just using mortality statistics, this study looks at which socio-demographic groups are most vulnerab≤ whether new policies have been successful in fighting the disease; what exactly is being done by key players, such as the government, churches, and other civil society organizations; and how the spread of HIV can be reduced in South Africa.

A health-care provider is likely to be the first professional contact for survivors of intimate partner violence or sexual assault. Evidence suggests that women who have been subjected to violence seek health care more often than non-abused women, even if they do not disclose the associated violence. They also identify health-care providers as the professionals they would most trust with disclosure of abuse. These guidelines are an unprecedented effort to equip healthcare providers with evidence-based guidance as to how to respond to intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women. They also provide advice for policy makers, encouraging better coordination and funding of services, and greater attention to responding to sexual violence and partner violence within training programmes for health care providers. The guidelines are based on systematic reviews of the evidence, and cover: 1. identification and clinical care for intimate partner violence 2. clinical care for sexual assault 3. training relating to intimate partner violence and sexual assault against women 4. policy and programmatic approaches to delivering services 5. mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence. The guidelines aim to raise awareness of violence against women among health-care providers and policy-makers, so that they better understand the need for an appropriate health-sector response. They provide standards that can form the basis for national guidelines, and for integrating these issues into health-care provider education.