FHI 360’s work helps curb the HIV epidemic by challenging harmful gender norms and social practices that increase women’s and adolescents’ risk of acquiring HIV. These norms include early marriage, intergenerational sex, sexual violence and coercion, and unequal decision-making power in sexual relationships.
We work to reduce gender inequality in programs for orphans and other children made vulnerable by the HIV epidemic. Our efforts address gender-related vulnerabilities and stigma among sexual and gender minorities — such as transgender people and men who have sex with men — who are most at risk for HIV. We also support female caregivers who are dealing with HIV, such as through training female heads of households in income-generation skills.
FHI 360 develops, tests and promotes female-controlled HIV prevention methods and has expanded the global availability of HIV testing and programs that prevent mother-to-child transmission. Our researchers were first to demonstrate that a simple, inexpensive dose of nevirapine given to pregnant women could sharply reduce the likelihood of transmitting HIV to their newborn babies.
