Abstract
While poor countries have made progress attaining the The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goals for 2025, continued progress depends on continued accessibility of program services, as well as continued improvements in compliant behavior by HIV positive populations. This paper examines household survey data in four African countries pertaining to those critical behaviors and identifies the key population barriers for attaining UNAIDS goals.
The most substantial barrier to achieving UNAIDS goals appears to be poorer compliance by men regarding testing and sustained VLS. Routinely providing HIV testing and other HIV information during antenatal care (ANC) may have contributed to improved rates of HIV-status awareness of birthing-age women. New programs to routinely integrate HIV testing into men’s health care in workplaces or other settings could improve men’s awareness and compliance with treatment. Also needed are more effective interventions to target sectors of the population that are less likely to adhere to treatment regimens, such as persons with low-education levels, low wealth, and/or low knowledge of HIV.