The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program
Objectives. To assess the status of the HIV epidemic and programmatic implementation in Jamaica while identifying strategies for achieving effective HIV control. Methods. The assessment included a review of the core indicators of the UNAIDS Global Monitoring Framework, a desk review of program repor...
Published in: | Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English Spanish Portuguese |
Published: |
Pan American Health Organization
2020
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2020.157 https://doaj.org/article/de72bbad44444d19bc1a8f9bed1a3fa3 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:de72bbad44444d19bc1a8f9bed1a3fa3 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:de72bbad44444d19bc1a8f9bed1a3fa3 2023-05-15T15:12:43+02:00 The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program J. Peter Figueroa Jacqueline P. Duncan Althea Bailey Nicola Skyers 2020-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2020.157 https://doaj.org/article/de72bbad44444d19bc1a8f9bed1a3fa3 EN ES PT eng spa por Pan American Health Organization https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/53008 https://doaj.org/toc/1020-4989 https://doaj.org/toc/1680-5348 1020-4989 1680-5348 doi:10.26633/RPSP.2020.157 https://doaj.org/article/de72bbad44444d19bc1a8f9bed1a3fa3 Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, Vol 44, Iss 157, Pp 1-8 (2020) hiv infections vulnerable populations sexual behavior jamaica Medicine R Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2020.157 2022-12-31T12:40:02Z Objectives. To assess the status of the HIV epidemic and programmatic implementation in Jamaica while identifying strategies for achieving effective HIV control. Methods. The assessment included a review of the core indicators of the UNAIDS Global Monitoring Framework, a desk review of program reports, and unstructured interviews of stakeholders. Results. HIV prevalence among adults in Jamaica was 1.5% in 2018 with an estimated 32 617 persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and 27 324 persons (83.8%) diagnosed with HIV; 12 711 (39.0% of all PLHIV or 46.5% aware of their status) were on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the public health sector and 61.8% PLHIV on ART were virally suppressed. HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men remains high (31.4% in 2011, 29.6% in 2017) but has declined among female sex workers (12% in 1990, 2% in 2017). HIV prevalence among public sexually transmitted infection clinic attendees, prison inmates and the homeless has increased in recent years. During 2018 approximately 200 000 persons (14% of the population 15-49 years) were tested with 1 165 newly diagnosed PLHIV, indicating that many of the estimated 1 600 newly infected persons in 2018 were unaware of their status. Conclusions. Critical policy initiatives are needed to reduce barriers to HIV services, ensure young persons have access to condoms and contraceptives, affirm the rights of the marginalized, reduce stigma and discrimination, and introduce pre-exposure prophylaxis. While HIV spread in Jamaica has slowed, the UNAIDS Fast Track goals are lagging. The HIV program must be strengthened to effectively control the epidemic. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública 44 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English Spanish Portuguese |
topic |
hiv infections vulnerable populations sexual behavior jamaica Medicine R Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
spellingShingle |
hiv infections vulnerable populations sexual behavior jamaica Medicine R Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 J. Peter Figueroa Jacqueline P. Duncan Althea Bailey Nicola Skyers The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program |
topic_facet |
hiv infections vulnerable populations sexual behavior jamaica Medicine R Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
Objectives. To assess the status of the HIV epidemic and programmatic implementation in Jamaica while identifying strategies for achieving effective HIV control. Methods. The assessment included a review of the core indicators of the UNAIDS Global Monitoring Framework, a desk review of program reports, and unstructured interviews of stakeholders. Results. HIV prevalence among adults in Jamaica was 1.5% in 2018 with an estimated 32 617 persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and 27 324 persons (83.8%) diagnosed with HIV; 12 711 (39.0% of all PLHIV or 46.5% aware of their status) were on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the public health sector and 61.8% PLHIV on ART were virally suppressed. HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men remains high (31.4% in 2011, 29.6% in 2017) but has declined among female sex workers (12% in 1990, 2% in 2017). HIV prevalence among public sexually transmitted infection clinic attendees, prison inmates and the homeless has increased in recent years. During 2018 approximately 200 000 persons (14% of the population 15-49 years) were tested with 1 165 newly diagnosed PLHIV, indicating that many of the estimated 1 600 newly infected persons in 2018 were unaware of their status. Conclusions. Critical policy initiatives are needed to reduce barriers to HIV services, ensure young persons have access to condoms and contraceptives, affirm the rights of the marginalized, reduce stigma and discrimination, and introduce pre-exposure prophylaxis. While HIV spread in Jamaica has slowed, the UNAIDS Fast Track goals are lagging. The HIV program must be strengthened to effectively control the epidemic. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
J. Peter Figueroa Jacqueline P. Duncan Althea Bailey Nicola Skyers |
author_facet |
J. Peter Figueroa Jacqueline P. Duncan Althea Bailey Nicola Skyers |
author_sort |
J. Peter Figueroa |
title |
The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program |
title_short |
The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program |
title_full |
The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program |
title_fullStr |
The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program |
title_full_unstemmed |
The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program |
title_sort |
hiv epidemic in jamaica: a need to strengthen the national hiv program |
publisher |
Pan American Health Organization |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2020.157 https://doaj.org/article/de72bbad44444d19bc1a8f9bed1a3fa3 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, Vol 44, Iss 157, Pp 1-8 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/53008 https://doaj.org/toc/1020-4989 https://doaj.org/toc/1680-5348 1020-4989 1680-5348 doi:10.26633/RPSP.2020.157 https://doaj.org/article/de72bbad44444d19bc1a8f9bed1a3fa3 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2020.157 |
container_title |
Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública |
container_volume |
44 |
container_start_page |
1 |
_version_ |
1766343358640291840 |