AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2005

Findings published in AIDS Epidemic Update 2005, the 2005 edition of the annual report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), indicate that there is evidence that adult HIV infection rates have decreased in certain countries and that changes in behaviour to prevent infection - such as increased use of condoms, delay of first sexual experience and fewer sexual partners - have played a key part in these declines. However, it also indicates that overall trends in HIV transmission are still increasing, and that greater HIV prevention efforts are needed to slow the epidemic.

According to the report, data shows that in Latin America, Eastern Europe and particularly Asia, the combination of injecting drug use and sex work is fuelling epidemics, and prevention programmes are falling short of addressing this overlap. The report shows how sustained, intensive programmes in diverse settings have helped bring about decreases in HIV incidence - among young people in Uganda and Tanzania, among sex workers and their clients in Thailand and India, and among injecting drug users in Spain and Brazil. The report states that levels of knowledge of safe sex and HIV remain low in many countries – even in countries with high and growing prevalence. In 24 sub-Saharan countries two-thirds or more of young women lacked comprehensive knowledge of HIV transmission. The report also identifies HIV stigma and the resulting actual or feared discrimination to be one of the most difficult obstacles to effective HIV prevention, stating that stigma and discrimination "reduce the effectiveness efforts to control the global epidemic and create an ideal climate for its further growth. Stigma also stems from lack of awareness and knowledge about HIV."

The report proposes that public information campaigns about sexually transmitted infections and the spread of HIV should be strengthened, especially among marginalised populations. These campaigns should be supportive, non-discriminatory, and encourage open dialogue. Furthermore, it suggests that in some cases while awareness of HIV/AIDS is on the rise, specific knowledge about HIV still is inadequate.

The report first provides an introduction to HIV/AIDS globally, and outlines strategies for prevention. Individual chapters provide information about the statistics and impact regionally, discussing the different contexts and potential strategies. Graphs and tables aim to help the reader better understand the information provided.

Click here to visit the website download the full report and regional fact sheets.