Journal ArticleDOI
Time to intervene: preventing the spread of HIV / AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa.
Roudi-Fahimi F,Eliane Bio,Roberto Eduardo Bittar,Marcelo Zugaib,Adu-Oppong A,Richard M. Grimes,Michael W. Ross,Risser J,Kessie G,Leickness C. Simbayi,Seth C. Kalichman,Anna Strebel,Allanise Cloete,N. Henda,Nintachan P,Moon Mw,Bearinger Lh,Sieving Re,Ferguson J,Sharma,W.P. Modotte,Rogério Dias,Fernando Frei,D.S. Dias,Flávio Ferreira Fernandes,Simone da Nóbrega Tomaz Moreira,Carmen Oliveira Medeiros Melo,Geraldez Tomaz,de Azevedo Gd,Márcia Regina Vitolo,Boscaini C,Gisele Ane Bortolini,Mukasa Kk +32 more
TLDR
The purpose of this policy brief is to raise awareness among MEANs decision-makers and opinion leaders about the urgent need for action by presenting some of the warning signs risks and vulnerabilities that face the region.Abstract:
The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa (MEAN) region increased from 87000 in 2003 to 152000 in 2005 according to United Nations estimates. While these numbers may look small compared to about 40 million people who are living with HIV worldwide the number of infections appears to be increasing rapidly in the region. More important the low number of HIV infections does not mean low risk. MEANs conservative culture--in which sexual relationships outside marriage are forbidden--has been partly responsible for keeping the rates of HIV infection relatively low. The same conservative norms however often contribute to a general attitude of denial combined with strong stigmatization and social ostracism of people living with HIV/AIDS. Because HIV infection is concentrated for now among people who are often perceived as socially deviant the AIDS epidemic has been shrouded in ignorance--and that ignorance does not help prevent the spread of the infection. Thepurpose of this policy brief is to raise awareness among MEANs decision-makers and opinion leaders about the urgent need for action by presenting some of the warning signs risks and vulnerabilities that face the region. The current low rates of HIV infection and concentration among specific groups in MEAN offer the opportunity to develop policies and programs to prevent an epidemic that could have far-reaching social and economic implications. (excerpt)read more
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Journal ArticleDOI
Stigmatization of Persons With HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia
TL;DR: The findings suggest that students who knew less about HIV/AIDS were more likely to stigmatize persons living with HIV/ AIDS than those who knew more, and AIDS-related shame was the best predictor of AIDS stigma.
Journal ArticleDOI
HIV-related knowledge and AIDS stigma among college students in Yemen.
Abdallah M. Badahdah,Sayem N +1 more
TL;DR: The findings indicate that participants had several serious misunderstandings about HIV/AIDS and held negative attitudes toward people living with HIV/ AIDS.
Journal ArticleDOI
Seroprevalence of HBV, HCV & HIV co-infection and risk factors analysis in Tripoli-Libya.
TL;DR: HBV, HCV, HIV and co-infection are relatively common in Libya and high prevalence was associated with geographic, ethnic and socioeconomic variability within the community.
Journal ArticleDOI
HIV in Iran: onset, responses, and future directions.
SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi,Leila Taj,Elham Mazaheri-Tehrani,Sara Ahsani-Nasab,Negin Abedinzadeh,Willi McFarland,Minoo Mohraz,Ali Mirzazadeh,Ali Mirzazadeh +8 more
TL;DR: The initial onset and subsequent spread of HIV infection in Iran is recounted, beginning with the first case diagnosed to the ongoing responses and most recent achievements in controlling this epidemic.
Journal ArticleDOI
Knowledge and Attitudes of Doctors Toward People Living With HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia.
Ziad A. Memish,Sana M. Filemban,Afolabi Bamgboyel,Rafaat F. Al Hakeem,Sayedgotb M. Elrashied,Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq +5 more
TL;DR: Evidence of poor knowledge of HIV suggests the need for further training of health workers on HIV transmission mode, and HIV knowledge was a significant predictor of high stigma.