Publications

Urgent action is needed to control the expanding HIV epidemic in the Philippines. After many years of stable, low-level transmission, the number of cases detected has risen an average of 62% in each of the past five years; compounded, this is almost a 10-fold increase in the number of cases detected each year. It is clear which population is being affected: in the first half of 2012, 96% of newly identified cases were males, and 87% of all newly identified cases were males who have sex with males (MSM). As a result, the HIV prevalence in MSM is now ranging from 2-5% and climbing.

Comprehensive information about national spending on AIDS response is crucial for health policy development and evaluation. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the overall level and composition of major investments in national AIDS response in Dehong Prefecture introducing National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA) as a method for the purpose.

This report documents, the presentations and discussions made during the Youth Voices Count 2nd Consultation on Self-stigma Among Young Men who have sex with men and transgender people: Voices from the community, held from 2-5 October 2012 at Bangkok, Thailand. The primary objective of this regional consultation was to introduce the YVC network and its members and to hear the voices of community people on the self-stigma in young MSM and TG groups in order to develop key recommendations targeting policy-makers and programmers on addressing these issues.  

The MoH HIV/STI unit conducted active surveillance for select STIs (syphilis, Chlamydia, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C) and HIV rapid testing in 5 districts of Timor-Leste: Covalima, Oecusse, Bobonaro, Dili, and Baucau. The HIV/STI unit also assessed the behavioral characteristics of specific high-risk target groups in those districts: female sex workers (FSW), males who have sex with other males (MSM), and uniformed personnel (UP). These data will help the HIV/STI program quantify HIV/STI prevalence in Timor-Leste and improve its programs.

The survey was planned, designed and implemented by Punjab Bureau of Statistics. The sample design and listing was provided by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics formerly known as Federal Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan. Technical input was obtained from global desk on MICS4, UNICEF. Fieldwork was carried out from July to December 2011. Findings reveal the significant variations in most of the indicators with respect to location, gender, household characteristics, administrative units and wealth quintiles.

This report explores a number of domestic financing options for the HIV/AIDS response and assesses their potential contribution to the current and future projected HIV/AIDS needs of the country. The resource needs for the period 2012-2020 are projected to increase from VDN 2.4 trillion in 2012 to VDN 6.4 trillion in 2020. Available baseline resources are estimated at VDN 2.4 trillion in 2012, decreasing to 1.13 trillion in 2020.

The surveillance of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is of great value in designing, implementing and monitoring of public health programmes for the prevention and control of HIV infection and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). There are number of different methods available for HIV surveillance. Of these behavioural surveillance, biological or sero-surveillance, HIV and AIDS case surveillance and use of other supplementary data such as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Tuberculosis surveillance have been recommended by WHO/UNAIDS.

There are various risk factors that can affect young people, such as living in a neighbourhood where drug dealing and drug abuse are taking place and where out-of-school activities are not available. Economic strain on families where parents struggle to meet living costs can influence family relationships negatively, while spending time with peers who are involved in drugs or delinquency while seeking adventure puts young people at higher risk of falling prey to drug abuse. As a consequence of these kinds of risk factors, young people may suffer from mental health problems, making them even more vulnerable to substance abuse.

Within the GMS the need for joint action for HIV prevention and better access to treatment, care and support is increasingly articulated at national and provincial (border provinces) levels, especially in contexts where migrants and mobile populations face barriers to accessing services in destination countries. In 2004, the six countries in the GMS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Joint Action to Reduce HIV Vulnerability Related to Population Movement and, following the expiration of this MOU in 2009, an amended MoU was signed during the 4th GMS Summit in Myanmar in 2011. Accompanying the 2011 MOU is a draft Joint Action Program (JAP) that identifies priority areas for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Drawing guidance from both the MoU and its attached draft JAP, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre jointly convened this 2012 Consultation on the Memorandum of Understanding to Reduce HIV Vulnerability Associated with Population Movement, in order to formulate concrete national, bilateral and subregional activities to address the challenges faced by migrants and mobile populations in this area.

Sex workers have the same sexual and reproductive rights as anyone else – such as to choose who to have sex with and to have sexual relations free from violence. They also share many of the same needs for SRHR information, support, commodities and services – such as advice about family planning. This brief specifically focuses on the importance, but also challenges, of HIV/SRHR integration for sex workers. It is based on the experiences of a growing number of groups working with such communities to put integration into practice in a range of setting. These have given important insights into ‘what works’. But they also highlight that everyone is still learning and questions remain about what constitutes good practice. This issue brief promotes integration as a desirable goal in the long-term. However, it also emphasizes that organizations must work in a way and at pace that is appropriate and feasible for them – to ensure that the joining of HIV and SRHR services and systems enhances, rather than compromises, support for sex workers.