Empowering Women Living With HIV Through Partner-Based Interventions: A Scoping Review

Spouses and partners play a crucial role in the well-being of women living with HIV (WLWH), especially in family-oriented cultures. This scoping review examined partner-inclusive interventions to strengthen support systems for WLWH. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for peer-reviewed studies from 2004 to 2024. Of 1,375 records screened, six randomized trials conducted in the U.S., China, Ethiopia, and sub-Saharan Africa met the inclusion criteria. Four involved WLWH-partner dyads, two included other family members. Interventions varied in format and were facilitated by health care/social service providers and peer leaders. Most interventions were theory-driven and used psychosocial and behavioral strategies. Positive outcomes included improved medication adherence, HIV knowledge, safe sex behaviors, mental/physical health, gender norms, partner relationships, and coping behaviors. However, gaps remain, notably the lack of approaches addressing power imbalances within the dyad. Future research should consider culturally tailored interventions that emphasize gender empowerment and shared decision-making.