HIV Health and Wellness

Philippines: Is the Philippines ready for HIV self-testing?

The Philippines is facing a rapidly rising HIV epidemic among young men who have sex with men (MSM). Testing rates among young populations is poor. HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a promising strategy to address this testing gap. The study’s purpose was to explore the perceived acceptability, feasibility and programmatic challenges of HIVST among key informants and target users.

US: Supreme Court will review religious health care exemptions

In a move that LGBT legal activists see as “deeply worrisome,” the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday (January 17) said it will review two appeals in which the Trump administration is seeking to make it much easier for employers to exclude health insurance coverage for some medical procedures by saying such procedures violate their religious beliefs or moral conscience.

Eswatini: Ending Bullying and Humiliation over Menstruation as Girls and Boys are Educated about Reproductive Health

“There’s a lot of stigma associated with menstruation. When a woman is on her periods, she is said to be in ‘cleansing’ something that portrays her as dirty.”

Truvada should remain first choice for HIV prevention, experts say

In October 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a second medication for use as HIV preexposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP, sparking controversy about which drug should be prescribed. Gilead Sciences, which manufactures both approved drugs, has argued that the new drug is safer and more effective than the old drug.

HIV-related stigma among health-care workers in the MENA region

Stigma has accompanied the HIV epidemic since the beginning and remains prevalent worldwide. Yet, in some settings, such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, stigma is more pronounced because of the interplay between religion, culture, and geopolitics.