HIV Testing, Prevention and Care Interventions

Dear Colleagues,

Infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a growing problem all around the world that, if not diagnosed and treated early, might cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of HIV infection. Worldwide strategy promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations UNAIDS focuses on 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% of people diagnosed with HIV being on antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of people on ART achieving viral suppression. It is well known that risk factors for HIV include having vaginal or anal sex with someone who is HIV positive or whose HIV status you do not know; having sex with many partners; and injecting drugs and sharing needles, syringes, or other drug equipment with others. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US recommends that everyone 13 to 64 years of age get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care and that people at higher risk for HIV get tested more often. If you are over 64 years of age and at risk for HIV, your health care provider may recommend HIV testing. Additionally, the CDC recommends that all pregnant women get tested for HIV so that they can begin taking HIV medicines if they are HIV positive. In addition, to achieve viral suppression, it is crucial to the laboratory monitoring of this parameter in the person living with HIV.

However, full access to testing is not possible everywhere, not necessarily due to lack of resources, as there are legal, cultural, and even religious barriers, plus the stigma, of course. For those reasons, this Special Issue is primarily focused on sharing experiences and pitfalls in one’s own reality to overcome HIV testing barriers, and those strategies to set proper prevention and care interventions.

In addition, this Special Issue aims to be enriched with quantitative data, rather than descriptive studies, to provide additional tools for decision makers on the important public health aspects concerning HIV-infected people, particularly to ensure that HIV is completely controlled and improve awareness in the HIV-negative population.

Prof. Dr. Enrique Terán
Dr. Ricardo Izurieta
Guest Editors

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• HIV testing
• HIV stigma
• HIV prevention
• HIV care