International Collaboration in HIV Prevention Research: Evidence from a Research Seminar in Russia

Abstract

HIV transmission is a major health concern. Global efforts are necessary to control the spread of infection. International collaborative studies in countries with high rates of new infections are essential for increasing knowledge on the behavioral, social, and biomedical aspects of HIV/AIDS and HIV transmission. Statistics indicate a growing HIV epidemic in Russia. There are alarming proportions of new cases attributed to heterosexual contact, and HIV is increasingly affecting people in the general population who are not part of any traditional high-risk group. Despite recent advances in HIV prevention, data on effective behavioral prevention approaches are limited. There is minimal evidence to suggest which types of prevention will be effective in reducing the risk for HIV transmission among people at risk in the general population. This article presents a review and discussion of an international research seminar, HIV Prevention Research: Evidence-Based Behavioral Approaches. Local and international interdisciplinary researchers gathered for the purposes of exchanging research results and information about ongoing studies, identifying gaps in knowledge, and discussing promising prevention strategies. The overarching goal was to advance HIV prevention research through scientific integration. The seminar provided an excellent platform for building research capacity in interdisciplinary HIV research in Russia and integrating research efforts with the international research community to contribute to HIV prevention research throughout the world.

HIV Stigma and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among People Living with HIV in Russia

“…The HIV epidemic in the Russian Federation (Russia) is among the most rapidly growing globally [1]. Over the past two decades, HIV prevalence in Russia has increased from occasional transfusion-related cases to over 1 million people living with HIV in the country [2], propelled in large measure among people who inject drugs (PWID) [3, 4].…”

“…This study’s aims were thus to [1] describe HIV stigma among people living with HIV who report a history of unhealthy alcohol use, and [2] examine associations between recent unhealthy alcohol use (i.e., alcohol dependence and drinking at risky levels) and HIV-related stigma in this Russian population.…”

The HIV care continuum among men who have sex with men in Moscow, Russia: a cross-sectional study of infection awareness and engagement in care

“…New HIV infections are primarily concentrated among key populations at risk for HIV infection, including people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men (MSM), and sex workers, representing more than 85% of new infections 5 6. There has been a major emphasis on HIV testing in the Russian Federation with over 27.8 million tests conducted among Russian citizens and 1.9 million tests reported among foreign nationals in 2014 6.…”

Viral Pandemics of the Last Four Decades: Pathophysiology, Health Impacts and Perspectives

“…The goal was to improve HIV prevention research through scientific integration. Both local and international efforts were required to identify research gaps and to discuss promising prevention strategies [ 245 ]. To this end, activities and outcomes such as facilitating knowledge transfer and exchange, establishing and strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships, and identifying new and emerging priorities in this field were necessary, for which an international community-academic-clinical research collaborative using a community-engaged approach was envisaged [ 246 ].…”