Characterizing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Middle East and North Africa : time for strategic action

• Main Authors: Abu-Raddad, Laith J, Akala, Francisca Ayodeji, Semini, Iris, Riedner, Gabriele, Wilson, David, Tawil, Ousama
• Format: eBook Book Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, D.C World Bank 2010; World Bank Publications; The World Bank
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: ACCESS TO CONDOMS; ACCESS TO INTERVENTIONS; ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome > epidemiology > Africa, Northern; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome > epidemiology > Middle East; ADVOCACY EFFORTS; Africa, North; AIDS; AIDS (Disease); AIDS (Disease) > Africa, North; AIDS (Disease) > Middle East; AIDS CASES; AT-RISK GROUPS; AWARENESS RAISING; BEHAVIORAL SURVEILLANCE; BILATERAL DONORS; BLOOD DONORS; BREASTFEEDING; CHILDBIRTH; COMMERCIAL SEX; COMMERCIAL SEX WORK; COMMERCIAL SEX WORKER; CONDOM; CONDOM USE; CRIME; DISEASES; Drug addiction; DRUG USER; DRUGS; ECONOMIC CONDITIONS; EFFECTIVE PREVENTION; EPIDEMICS; EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE; Epidemiology; FAMILIES; FAMILY HEALTH; FAMILY MEMBERS; HARM REDUCTION; HEALTH; HEALTH EXPENDITURES; HEALTH FACILITIES; Health planning; Health Planning > Africa, Northern; Health Planning > Middle East; Health policy; Health Policy > Africa, Northern; Health Policy > Middle East; HEALTH SERVICES; HEPATITIS C; HIGH RISK OF INFECTION; HIGH-RISK; HIGH-RISK GROUPS; HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS; HIV; HIV INFECTION; HIV INFECTIONS; HIV Infections > epidemiology > Africa, Northern; HIV Infections > epidemiology > Middle East; HIV Infections > transmission > Africa, Northern; HIV Infections > transmission > Middle East; HIV PREVENTION; HIV TESTING; HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS; IMMUNODEFICIENCY; INJECTING DRUG USE; INJECTING DRUG USERS; INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT; INTERVENTION; INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS; LIFE EXPECTANCY; LIFESTYLES; LOW PREVALENCE; MALARIA; MEDICAL CARE; MEDICAL RESEARCH; Middle East; MIGRANTS; MIGRATION; MOTHER-TO-CHILD; MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION; MULTIPLE SEX PARTNERS; NEW INFECTIONS; North Africa; NUMBER OF AIDS DEATHS; NUTRITION; PANDEMIC; PARENTHOOD FEDERATION; PATIENTS; PREVALENCE RATE; PREVALENCE RATES; Prevention; PREVENTION EFFORTS; PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS; PRISONS; PRIVATE PROVIDERS; PRODUCTIVITY; Prostitution; PUBLIC HEALTH; REDUCTION IN TRANSMISSION; REFUGEES; RELIGIOUS LEADERS; RISK BEHAVIORS; RISK FACTORS; Risk Factors > Africa, Northern; Risk Factors > Middle East; RISK OF INFECTION; RISK POPULATIONS; RISK TAKING; SAFE NEEDLES; SAVINGS; SCHOOLS; SCREENING; SEX WITH MEN; SEX WORKER; SEXUAL ACTIVITIES; SEXUAL EDUCATION; SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS; SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT; SOCIAL SCIENCE; STIS; SUBSIDIARY; SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES; SURVEILLANCE DATA; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; TUBERCULOSIS; UNAIDS; UNEMPLOYMENT; VERTICAL TRANSMISSION; VIOLENCE; VOLUNTARY COUNSELING; VULNERABLE GROUPS; WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION; YOUNG ADULTS; YOUTH; Middle East; North Africa; HIV/AIDS; PUBLIC HEALTH; MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA; INJECTING DRUG USERS; FEMALE SEX WORKERS; MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN; SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; EPIDEMIC; SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS; HEALTH POLICY
• ISBN: 0821381377; 9780821381373
• DOI: 10.1596/978-0-8213-8137-3

Despite a fair amount of progress on understanding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemiology globally, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the only region where knowledge of the epidemic continues to be very limited, and subject to much controversy. It has been more than 25 years since the discovery of HIV, but no scientific study has provided a comprehensive data-driven synthesis of HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) infectious spread in this region. The current report provides the first comprehensive scientific assessment and data-driven epidemiological synthesis of HIV spread in MENA since the beginning of the epidemic. It is based on a literature review and analysis of thousands of widely unrecognized publications, reports, and data sources extracted from scientific literature or collected from sources at the local, national, and regional levels. The recommendations provided here focus on key strategies related to the scope of this report and its emphasis on understanding HIV epidemiology in MENA as a whole. The recommendations are based on identifying the status of the HIV epidemic in MENA, through this synthesis, as a low HIV prevalence setting with rising concentrated epidemics among priority populations. General directions for prevention interventions as warranted by the outcome of this synthesis are also discussed briefly, but are not delineated because they are beyond the scope of this report. This report was not intended to provide intervention recommendations for each MENA country.