Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes : JAIDS
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J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. · Feb 2010
Prevalence and correlates of HIV infection among male injection drug users in detention in Tehran, Iran.
To measure HIV prevalence and characterize associated risk behaviors among injection drug users (IDU) upon detention in Tehran, Iran. ⋯ This study supports that incarceration is contributing to the increased spread of HIV. Harm reduction programs should be urgently expanded, particularly among incarcerated IDU.
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J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. · Dec 2009
Are we on course for reporting on the Millennium Development Goals in 2015?
At the 2001 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS), Member States agreed to regularly review progress made in national responses to HIV. This article provides (1) a brief overview of how the resultant global UNGASS reporting system was developed; (2) the origins, background, limitations and potential of that system; (3) an overview of the articles in this supplement; and (4) crosscutting institutional and methodological issues. ⋯ Although the UNGASS global reporting system now comprises an unequaled wealth of data on HIV responses, collected from a broad range of countries, it cannot yet answer several critical questions about the progress and effectiveness of those responses. Evaluation studies that go beyond indicator monitoring are needed, but they will take time to design, fund, implement and interpret. In the meantime, this global monitoring system provides a good indication of the overall progress in the global response to HIV and whether Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6 (to halt and reverse the HIV epidemic) is likely to be reached by 2015.
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J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. · Dec 2009
Is there a gender gap in the HIV response? Evaluating national HIV responses from the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS country reports.
The Declaration of Commitment of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS), in 2001, sets out several policy and programmatic commitments that pertain to women and the gender aspects of the HIV epidemic. Some of them are general, whereas others are more specific and include time-bounded targets. This article summarizes data on policies and strategies affecting women and men equity in access to antiretroviral treatment and other HIV services, as reported by countries but do not address other issues of gender, such as men having sex with men. ⋯ Since 2001, a large majority of countries have integrated women-related issues into their national HIV policies and strategic plans. However, countries and regions with low-level or concentrated HIV epidemics lag behind countries with generalized epidemics in integrating women-focused policies into national frameworks. The lack of budget support for women-focused programs in half of the countries indicates that those policies have not been sufficiently translated into multisectoral activities. The engagement of development ministries in women's social and economic empowerment is largely still lacking, which raises the concern that strategies to reduce gender inequality may also be lacking in broader development plans. The apparent attainment of gender equity in HIV testing and the delivery of antiretroviral treatment is an important achievement. There has also been a significant increase in countries' abilities to collect and report data disaggregated by sex and age. The monitoring of women's progress in HIV responses via the UNGASS reporting system provides important insights but should be complemented with data that strengthen understandings of the actual implementation of strategies, as well.
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J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. · Dec 2009
Estimating levels of HIV testing, HIV prevention coverage, HIV knowledge, and condom use among men who have sex with men (MSM) in low-income and middle-income countries.
HIV prevalence data suggest that men who have sex with men (MSM) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) are at increased risk of HIV. The aim of this article is to present global estimates on key HIV prevention needs and responses among MSM in LMIC. ⋯ The 2008 UNGASS country reports represent the largest harmonized data set to date of HIV prevention needs and responses among MSM in LMIC. Although reporting is incomplete and does not always conform to requirements, findings confirm that, in many LMIC, HIV prevention responses in MSM need substantial strengthening.