HIV Elimination: Addressing Challenges in Vulnerable Populations and Reducing Discrimination

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 126

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Graduate Program in Nursing, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Corrêa, 01-Guamá, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Interests: HIV; AIDS; populations in vulnerability; sexually transmissible infections; syphilis; ecologic studies; spatial analysis; temporal analysis; cross-sectional studies; epidemiology

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Graduate Program in Nursing, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Corrêa, 01-Guamá, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Interests: HIV/AIDS; sexually transmissible infections; epidemiology

Special Issue Information

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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Keywords

  • HIV/AIDS among key populations
  • socioeconomically marginalized communities
  • HIV prevention and intervention strategies
  • antiretroviral therapy access
  • stigma and discrimination in HIV Care
  • HIV and women
  • mother-to-child HIV transmission
  • HIV and aging populations
  • HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behavior
  • adherence to antiretroviral therapy
  • viral resistance in HIV Treatment
  • community engagement in HIV Prevention
  • HIV in fragile populations
  • global HIV epidemiology
  • marginalized populations and HIV

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 298 KiB  
Article
Socioeconomic, Behavioural, and Protective Factors Influences on the Combined Prevention of HIV Infection Among Brazilian Amazon Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Thiago Vilhena Silva, Iaron Leal Seabra, Glenda Roberta Oliveira Naiff Ferreira, João Gabriel Alves da Luz, Cecília Conceição Viana, Lucas Barros de Paiva, Glauber Weder dos Santos Silva, Caio Lacerda dos Santos, Luiz Fernando Almeida Machado and Eliã Pinheiro Botelho
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(8), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10080231 (registering DOI) - 16 Aug 2025
Abstract
We analysed the socioeconomic, behavioural, and protection factors (PFs) influences on the HIV combined prevention (CP) strategy among Brazilian Amazonian men who have sex with men (MSMs). PFs are resources that reduce the effect of adversity and help people maintain their well-being. Methods: [...] Read more.
We analysed the socioeconomic, behavioural, and protection factors (PFs) influences on the HIV combined prevention (CP) strategy among Brazilian Amazonian men who have sex with men (MSMs). PFs are resources that reduce the effect of adversity and help people maintain their well-being. Methods: Cross-sectional study employing a convenient sample of MSMs living in the metropolitan region of Belém. A questionnaire containing socioeconomic, behavioural, PFs, and behaviour/knowledge concerning CP questions was used. “Behaviour/knowledge concerning CP” was defined as a dependent variable and received a maximum score of 16 points. The Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests and multiple linear regression were employed. Results: Our sample comprised 384 MSMs scoring an average of 7.83 points (±1.9). Contributing to lower scores were “not talking about sex life with confidants”, “not talking with work colleagues about personal life and sexually transmissible infections”, and “not participating in non-governmental organisations.” On the other hand, “not being happy in the neighbourhood of residency” contributed to higher scores. Conclusion: Peer support and social inclusion are essential for increasing MSMs’ access to CP. Full article
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