HIV-Positive Women's Health and Mental Wellbeing

Women living with HIV experience a constellation of health challenges that extend beyond virological control. On the physical side, there is growing recognition of sex-specific differences in immunological response, comorbidity profiles and ageing trajectories. Women are more prone to late diagnosis and may face distinct barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, which in turn can influence long-term outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and reproductive health. Equally important is the mental wellbeing of women with HIV. Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress are commonly reported, often exacerbated by internalised stigma and intersectional discrimination related to gender, race, socioeconomic status or migratory background. Disclosure dilemmas, intimate partner violence and inadequate social support further undermine psychological resilience. Emerging models of care advocate for women-centred approaches that integrate medical treatment with psychosocial interventions, peer support and community empowerment. Such holistic strategies seek to address structural determinants of health, reduce stigma and uphold sexual and reproductive rights. Across diverse settings, the interconnection between biomedical advances and mental health support is increasingly seen as vital to improving quality of life for HIV-positive women worldwide.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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HIV-Positive Women's Health and Mental Wellbeing publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in hiv-positive women's health and mental wellbeing across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Antiretroviral therapy (ART): A combination of medications that suppresses HIV replication, preserves immune function and reduces the risk of onward transmission.

Viral suppression: Achievement of HIV RNA levels below the threshold of detection in blood, indicating effective ART.

Internalised stigma: Adoption of society’s negative attitudes towards HIV, leading to self-blame, shame and social withdrawal.

Perinatal period: The timeframe encompassing pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate weeks following delivery, during which both physical and mental health risks may be elevated.

References

1. Sex-based epidemiological and immunovirological characteristics of people living with HIV in current follow-up at a tertiary hospital: a comparative retrospective study, Catalonia, Spain, 1982 to 2020. Eurosurveillance (2023).
2. How does living with HIV impact on women's mental health? Voices from a global survey. Journal of the International AIDS Society (2015).
3. Psychosocial challenges facing women living with HIV during the perinatal period in rural Uganda. PLOS ONE (2017).