HIV Elimination: Addressing Challenges in Vulnerable Populations and Reducing Discrimination

Dear Colleagues,

As we strive towards the UNAIDS goal of eliminating HIV by 2030, we have seen the implementation of various policies and strategies; however, significant gaps remain in understanding the successes achieved and the ongoing challenges faced by countries worldwide in the fight against this epidemic. This editorial aims to provide a comprehensive situational diagnosis by examining the global epidemiologic landscape of HIV, with a focus on fragile and marginalized populations.

Key topics to be explored include:

• HIV/AIDS Among Key Populations: Including men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, individuals who inject drugs, and people in prisons or other closed settings.
• HIV/AIDS and Socioeconomically Marginalized Communities: Exploring how HIV disproportionately affects migrants, low-education settings, and other vulnerable groups.
• HIV Prevention and Intervention Strategies: Addressing the accessibility, affordability, and barriers to antiretroviral therapy, particularly in fragile populations.
• Addressing Discrimination: Approaches to reducing stigma and discrimination related to HIV, with an emphasis on inclusive and non-discriminatory frameworks in health policies and practices.
• HIV and Women: Special focus on the impact of HIV on women and mother-to-child transmission.
• HIV and Aging: The unique challenges faced by aging populations living with HIV.
• HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Risk Behavior: Investigating how knowledge of HIV and related behaviors affect prevention and transmission. In terms of risk behavior, investigating how knowledge of HIV and related behaviors affect prevention and transmission.
• HIV/AIDS and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy: Challenges surrounding medication adherence, including viral resistance.
• Role of Community Engagement: How communities can be involved in disseminating preventive messages and supporting individuals at risk.

This Special Issue welcomes observational and experimental research, as well as reviews from a diverse range of disciplines, including infectious disease specialists, anthropologists, public health experts, and social scientists, which can contribute to the progress of HIV elimination.

Dr. Eliã Pinheiro Botelho
Dr. Glenda Roberta Oliveira Naiff Ferreira
Guest Editors

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