HIV Risk and Prevention in Emergency‐affected Populations: A Review

Abstract

While basic guidelines on HIV prevention in emergencies have been available for several years, international agencies involved in the provision of health services have not placed sufficient priority on the prevention of the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in complex emergencies. This paper reviews the factors that may increase the risk of HIV transmission in populations affected by complex emergencies and outlines recommendations for research and programmes. Research into the most appropriate methods of carrying out HIV surveillance and interventions in these settings is needed. In the post-emergency phase programmes need to be far more extensive than those offered under the Minimal Initial Services Package (MISP). While the potential for stigmatization represents an important constraint, there is a need to prioritize HIV/STI interventions in order to prevent HIV transmission in emergency-affected populations themselves, as well as to contribute to regional control of the epidemic.

Hepatitis B and C virus infections among pregnant women in Arab and African countries

“…The northern region is entirely occupied by the Arab states and the status of HCV and HBV infection has already been described. Most of the countries in the other four regions suffer from political conflicts, drought, and famine, leading to large numbers of internally and externally displaced people, which might increase the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases [63,64] (Tables 2 and 4).…”

Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health during emergencies: Time for a new paradigm?

“…Since the mid-1990s, there has been a heightened awareness of the RH issues that affect populations during humanitarian crises. These include incidences of rape and GBV (McGinn 2000, Shanks and Schull 2000, Gasseer et al 2004, Rees et al 2005, Felten-Biermann 2006, Steiner et al 2009), increased transmission of HIV/AIDS (Khaw et al 2000, Salama and Dondero 2001, Hankins et al 2002, Mock et al 2004, Spiegel 2004, Karkee 2006, Samuels et al 2008, Kim et al 2009) and increases in maternal and neonatal mortality (Coghlan et al 2006, Kalter et al 2008.…”

The Prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and HIV-Related Risk-Taking Behaviors among Palestinian Injecting Drug Users in the East Jerusalem Governorate

“…17 Military occupation and the related violence, political instability, and economic hardship have serious epidemiological implications for the comparably young Palestinian population. Comparably to other regions affected by complex emergencies, [18][19][20] these macro factors will likely continue to generate conditions conducive to drug abuse in the OPT. …”