HIV/AIDS in Latin American Countries : The Challenges Ahead
HIV/AIDS in Latin America falls within the framework of a low endemic setting. In the majority of the countries, the epidemic is still concentrated in high-risk populations: men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting drug users (IDUs), commercial s...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
Washington, DC: World Bank
2013
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/08/2853310/hivaids-latin-american-countries http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15070 |
| Summary: | HIV/AIDS in Latin America falls within
the framework of a low endemic setting. In the majority of
the countries, the epidemic is still concentrated in
high-risk populations: men who have sex with men (MSM),
injecting drug users (IDUs), commercial sex workers (CSWs),
prisoners, and people with sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). The exceptions are Honduras and southeastern Brazil,
where the epidemic has reached the general population.
Heterosexual sex is the primary mode of transmission in
Central America, with sex between men predominating in South
America, and injecting drug use playing a significant role
in the Southern Cone. Survey respondents also identified
other populations with increased vulnerability in which
interventions would be crucial-young people and women.
Although the number of men living with AIDS outweighs the
number of women in all countries, the gender gap is closing,
and in some countries, the effect of AIDS on rural
communities is increasing rapidly. In low endemic settings,
the main priority is the highest risk groups, and activities
to address HIV/AIDS should be focused on (1) strengthening
efforts to prevent new infections in these populations, and
(2) providing care and support strategies, which in turn
create incentives for early detection of infection and/or
risky behavior. Epidemiological surveillance plays a key
role in the control of the epidemic through the measurement
of frequency, distribution, and evolution of HIV/AIDS among
populations; identification of high-risk groups; and
evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention efforts. |
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