Health Education Research, Vol. 16, No. 4, 403-409,
August 2001
© 2001 Oxford University Press
EDITORIAL |
HIV/AIDS in Europe: the challenge for health promotion research
Director, Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, 27–28 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, UK
There can be little doubt that the epidemiological profile of HIV infection in Europe is beginning to change. In a number of Western European countries, the number of new infections reported each year as a result of sexual and injection-related transmission is beginning to fall. At the same time, however, worryingly high rates of infection are still to be seen among members of especially vulnerable and socially marginalized groups. In Central and Eastern Europe, the number of new infections is rising—partly as a consequence of the economic and social `liberalization' that accompanied the end of the communist period, but also due to a lack of political commitment to HIV prevention.
Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has brought about many changes. On the one hand, combination therapies offer new hope to hundreds of thousands of women and men living with HIV disease. On the other hand, there is evidence that HAART
A European approach?
Some emergent priorities
Working with migrants and refugees
Taking gender seriously
Re-invigorating work with gay men
Working with injecting drug users
Promoting better adherence
Working with young people
Working with policy makers
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References