Innovation and relevance: HIV prevention policies and practices are changing rapidly in the European region due to the recent decrease in AIDS incidence, the normalization and medicalization of the disease, and less media coverage. Following effective primary interventions among the original vulnerable groups (homo.- and bisexual men, IVDUs), new vulnerable groups (youth, women, migrants, young homosexuals, prisoners) are emerging.
Approach/methodology: The 1999 European Union-funded study reviewed current policies and practices in twenty five European countries, based on an analytical framework and questionnaire encompassing nine different dimensions. In each country surveyed, country collaborators collected data with a focus since 1996 from published materials and gray literature, and key informants' interviews. The present analysis focuses on twelve countries of the western and southern European region.
Results and lessons learned: Findings and examples of the present gaps, and best practices will be illustrated from different countries.
The two main gaps in HIV prevention identified are the lack of access to information and services of the new vulnerable groups, and the lack of political and global commitments through lower funding of prevention activities, and decreasing private donations.
The main challenges for future prevention policies are to keep HIV/AIDS as a relevant important theme both among the politicians and the population, to formulate clear national policies and choices in prevention, to integrate prevention in a more global context and redefine practice on a multidisciplinary level and under processes of decentralization, to increase the accessibility to prevention for the new vulnerable groups, particularly the marginalised, and to take stock of small scale best practices.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session, will be able to: 1. Describe the rapidly changing environment of HIV prevention policies and practices in Europe. 2. Identify the nine dimensions of the analytical framework used for the study. 3. Analyze the main gaps to HIV prevention in western and southern Europe. 4. List at least three best practices. 5. Discuss the main challenges for future HIV prevention policies
Keywords: Access and Services, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.