There is a strong connection between domestic abuse and HIV. According to the CDC [PDF 1,824 KB], an estimated one in three women in the U.S. experiences domestic abuse – but researchers estimate that 1 in 2 women living with HIV experience intimate partner violence (IPV). That violence puts women at greater risk for acquiring HIV to begin with—and for women living with the virus, IPV can make it harder to stay connected to care and to adhere to treatment.