The achievement of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets would reduce levels of viral suppression amongst HIV+ people to 73% by 2020. The target is set at this ambitious level because, modelers suggest, it would bring about the elimination of HIV by 2030. In sub-Saharan Africa the challenge seems so great – especially in regard to the […]
Latest articles
HIV/AIDS in the US: the importance of local perspectives
Some recent studies, in STI and other journals, have sought to demonstrate the importance of spatial location as a determinant of STI prevalence in its own right (Haley & Cooper (STI); ‘Scoping Location’ (STI/blogs))). On the face of it, Brawner & Schensul appear to share this aim, in their comparative neighbourhood-based case study of multilevel factors affecting HIV transmission […]
What is the potential of ‘Treatment for Prevention’ in fighting HIV/AIDS?
UNAIDS 90:90:90 appears to have set the course for a global ‘treatment as prevention’ strategy. In 2015 the US revised its National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) to harmonize its goals with UNAIDS 90% targets for testing, engagement in care, and virological suppression. Though the HIV/AIDS community have been nervous about the impact of the recent change […]
Cervical screening with primary HPV testing can work in a vaccinated population: new evidence from Australia
Studies have shown that primary screening with HPV testing, when combined with various forms of triage, offers greater security than cytology, and at longer screening intervals (Tota & Ratnam ). Furthermore, it has been argued that, with the introduction of child HPV vaccination, there will have to be shift from cytology to HPV testing in primary cervical […]
‘Over-fifties’ diagnosed with HIV: an increasingly important population in European countries
Recent data (Tavoschi & Pharris) about HIV diagnosis from the European surveillance system for the period 2004-2015 point to, amongst other things, the rising importance of the category of older people (>50 years). This trend is something that we have long been aware of (Savona/STI; Bodley-Tickell & Goold/STI). It is less than obvious, however, first, […]
The efficacy of Gardasil nonavalent HPV vaccine
The best choice of HPV vaccine – Gardasil 4vHPV, Cervatrix 2vHPV or Gardasil 9vHPV – will no doubt vary from one country to another. But decisions regarding the relative cost-effectiveness and affordability of a particular vaccine depend upon estimates of its efficacy. As regards the most recent vaccine, Gardasil 9vHPV, Huh & Luxembourg (H&L) have […]
Modelling the scale-down of HIV services in sub-Saharan Africa
Search BMJ STI archive, and you will find frequent references to ‘scaling up’, and few – if any – to ‘scaling back’ or ‘scaling down’ (other than Parker/STI). Who knows if all this may not be about to change, if the US government goes ahead with threats to cut current foreign aid budget ear-marked for […]
Boys’ BV?
Recent studies in STIs have drawn attention to the impact of the state of the microbiome of the female genital tract (FGT) and susceptibility to STIs – and, in particular, the protective effect of the hydrogen peroxide-releasing microbe Lactobacillus crispatus (L.c.) (Antonio & Hillier/STIs) (A&H). Such STIs include, not only BV (53% less likely with […]
Achieving UNAIDS 90-90-90: More haste less speed?
UNAIDS (2014) has set targets for HIV management that seem ambitious, if not unrealistically so (UNAIDS: 90-90-90): 90% of those living with HIV to know their status; 90% of known HIV+ individuals to undergo ART initiation; 90% of ART+ initiated to achieve viral suppression. A one-year-in report from a large cluster-randomized study of home-based testing […]
Why STI-induced infertility can also be a male problem.
Among long-term sequelae of STI that are asymptomatic and may consequently remain untreated are a number that affect men. The condition of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) has recently been discussed by Kenyon & Horner (STI), along with the feasibility of its treatment in the STI clinic (Crofts & Horner (STIs); Crofts & Horner (II) […]