A Scoping Review of Savings-Led Microfinance Interventions for Economic Independence and Relationship Power Among HIV-Positive Women in Rural Uganda

HIV-positive women in rural Uganda face intersecting vulnerabilities, including economic dependence and limited power within intimate relationships, which can exacerbate health and social outcomes. Savings-led microfinance interventions have been proposed as a strategy to enhance women’s economic agency and relational power. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesise the existing literature on savings-led microfinance interventions in rural Uganda, analysing their reported effects on economic independence and relationship power among HIV-positive women. A scoping review was conducted following established methodological frameworks. A systematic search was performed across major electronic databases in medicine and social sciences. Peer-reviewed articles, reports, and relevant grey literature were screened against pre-defined inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and analysed thematically. The review identified a limited but focused body of literature. Findings suggest interventions were associated with increased personal savings and small-scale business engagement. A prominent theme was the reported enhancement of women’s confidence and self-perceived household status. However, direct changes in tangible relationship power dynamics, such as control over resources or freedom from violence, were less clearly documented. Savings-led microfinance shows potential as a component of supportive programming for HIV-positive women in this context, primarily by fostering economic self-efficacy. Evidence directly linking participation to substantial shifts in relationship power structures remains inconclusive within the available literature. Future research should employ longitudinal, mixed-methods designs to better capture nuanced changes in economic and relational outcomes. Programme design should consider integrating explicit gender-transformative components alongside financial services to address underlying power imbalances more directly. microfinance, savings groups, HIV, women, economic empowerment, relationship power, Uganda, scoping review This review consolidates current evidence on savings-led microfinance for HIV-positive women in rural Uganda, clarifying its reported impacts on economic indicators and relational power, and identifying gaps for future inquiry and programme development.