The Social and Health Issues Facing HIV/AIDS Patients
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 October 2023) | Viewed by 2311
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The HIV epidemic remains a major global public health challenge, with a total of 38.4 million people living with HIV (PLWHA) worldwide. In 2021, 4000 people become infected with HIV every day and 650,000 died of AIDS-related causes. According to UNAIDS, the global AIDS response faces multiple challenges, partly due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. However, global HIV data on social and health problems facing PLWHA in the post-epidemic era are limited. Widespread stigma and discrimination place PLWHA at substantial risk for structural drivers, and limit access to high-impact HIV prevention and care services. Available data show that over 21% of PLWHA reports have been denied medical care in the past 12 months. Research on the mental health conditions of PLWHA during the COVID-19 pandemic is absent. Mental health status is associated with lower adherence to HIV treatment, increased risk behaviors, lower engagement with HIV prevention, and even the occurrence of suicide, and more research is needed. Studies using qualitative and quantitative data are preferred.
Submission topics may include, but are not limited to:
- HIV clinical and prevention issues (e.g., adherence to antiviral therapy; physical symptoms; sexuality-related problems).
- Research and practice addressing HIV-related social and structural issues among PLWHA, including but not limited to issues such as marginalization and stigmatization, vulnerability to violence, agency deprivation, and adequate standards of care.
- Mental health issues in PLWHA and research on psychosocial support, HIV services, and interventions for this population.
- Evaluations of service delivery and community-based interventions to improve engagement in HIV service among PLWHA.
- Research on key populations and their partners with HIV (e.g., gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, sex workers and their clients, and people in prisons and other closed settings).
Prof. Dr. Yong Cai
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- PLWHA
- HIV
- antiviral therapy
- stigmatization
- mental health
- social issues
- medical care
- suicide
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