Estimates of HIV burden in emergencies

Abstract

Objective:To quantify the proportion of people living with HIV who are being affected by emergencies.Methods:Emergencies were defined as conflict, natural disaster and/or displacement. Country-specific estimates of populations affected by emergencies were developed based on eight publicly available databases and sources. These estimates were calculated as proportions and then combined with updated country-level HIV estimates for the years 2003, 2005 and 2006 to obtain estimates of the number of men, women and children living with HIV who were also affected by emergencies.Results:In 2006, 1.8 (range 1.3–2.5) million people living with HIV (PLHIV) were also affected by conflict, disaster or displacement, representing 5.4% (range 4.0–7.6%) of the global number of PLHIV. In the same year, an estimated 930 000 (range 660 000–1.3 million) women and 150 000 (range 110 000–230 000) children under 15 years living with HIV were affected by emergencies. In emergency settings, the estimated numbers of PLHIV in 2003 and 2005 were 2.6 million (range 2.0–3.4 million) and 1.7 million (range 1.4–2.1 million), respectively, representing 7.9% and 5.1% of the global number of PLHIV).Conclusions:These estimates provide a rationale to ensure that HIV interventions are integrated into rapid assessment of all emergency and preparedness and response plans to prevent HIV infections and address excess suffering, morbidity and mortality among these often overlooked vulnerable groups.

Rapid qualitative research methods during complex health emergencies: A systematic review of the literature

“…Our use of the term 'complex health emergency' does not seek to supplant or redefine accepted definitions of complex emergencies and/or disasters, we use this term merely to illustrate that for the focus of this review we were interested in analyzing the work of qualitative researchers working explicitly on health-related issues during emergency events. The working definition we use for a complex health emergency can therefore be defined as a conflict, natural disaster and/or displacement of human populations event that causes, exposes or poses future health risks to vulnerable or marginalized persons which surpasses the ability of affected communities to recover using their own resources (Kulatunga 2010;Lowicki-Zucca et al 2008;Oliver-Smith 1996;WHO 2002). We have not included cases of chemical hazards in our definition of complex health emergency as this type of hazard requires particular response strategies and has specific effects on health related to toxicity or long-term genetic complications that might not be present in other complex health emergencies and might fall outside of the scope of rapid qualitative research (Clements and Casani 2016).…”

Clinical Skill and Knowledge Requirements of Health Care Providers Caring for Children in Disaster, Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Operations: An Integrative Review of the Literature

“…Some of the articles discussed only one major theme. For example, one article discussed only the estimates of HIV burden in countries affected by conflict, natural disaster or displacement, 19 another simply addressed vitamin D deficiency in refugee children 20 . Other articles described pediatric conditions and treatments encountered during humanitarian operations in great detail 21 , 22 .…”

Children, HIV, emergencies and Sustainable Development Goals: roadblocks ahead and possible solutions

“…Today, more than 59 million people are displaced – 22 million more than a decade ago , while more than 70 million people in 45 countries are food insecure – 40% more than in 2015. There are more than 1.8 million people living with HIV in emergency settings, with children under the age of 15 years accounting for around 10% . Emergencies have increasingly become protracted (long term) with an average stay in refugee camps reaching 20 years – implying that children could face more HIV risks throughout their adolescence in a refugee camp.…”