What's New

This technical update provides public health officials with guidance on applying HIV incidence assays and testing algorithms for recent HIV infection in order to monitor the HIV epidemic and assess the impact of interventions. A major theme of this update is the importance of calibrating two of the key performance characteristics of recent testing infections algorithms - mean duration of recent infection and false recent ratio - to account for the context in which the testing is being done. This technical update also describes several emerging use cases in the application of recent infection testing algorithms and tests, including those for individual-level use. A final section on further research directions is provided to highlight areas that still require investigation.

On Zero Discrimination Day, UNAIDS is highlighting the right of everyone to be free from discrimination. No one should ever be discriminated against because of their age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, language, health (including HIV) status, geographical location, economic status or migrant status, or for any other reason. Unfortunately, however, discrimination continues to undermine efforts to achieve a more just and equitable world. Many people face discrimination every day based on who they are or what they do.

The INCB Annual Report, prepared in accordance with the international drug control treaties, examines the global drug control situation, and makes recommendations to Governments and regional and international organizations. The thematic chapter of the INCB Annual Report for 2017 focuses on treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration for drug use disorders as essential components of drug demand reduction. The Report also focuses on the linkages between human rights and drug control policy, particularly as 2018 marks the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The Report's review of the functioning of the international drug control system also contains a number of key policy positions of the Board, for example on the non-medical use of cannabis and "drug consumption rooms".

This report is primarily intended for donors, policymakers, programme managers, and practitioner donors. It describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of diverse primary prevention interventions to prevent violence against women and girls that have a focus on transforming harmful masculinities and social norms in 4 diverse Asia-Pacific contexts, as well as discuss the main impacts of these interventions. The report locates the P4P project and learnings within the broader context of the global primary prevention field to highlight the contributions that P4P is making to advance the field globally.

In February 2018, there were 871 new HIV antibody seropositive individuals reported to the HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) [Table 1]. Sixteen percent (135) had clinical manifestations of advanced HIV infection (WHO clinical stage 3 or 4) at the time of diagnosis.

The 2016-17 MDHS was the second DHS survey to be conducted in the Maldives in collaboration with the worldwide Demographic and Health Surveys Program. Fieldwork for the survey was carried out from 17 March 2016 to 27 November 2017 covering a national sample of over 6,000 households.

When medically justified, a caesarean section can effectively prevent maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. However, there is no evidence to show that C-section delivery has any benefits for women or infants who do not require the procedure.

Women are estimated to account for one third of the 275 million people who use drugs globally. Women who use drugs are consistently reported to have less access to harm reduction services and to be at higher risk of HIV and hepatitis C infection than men who use drugs. Despite these reports, robust data on this subject is scarce, and research on drug use and related health issues rarely produces information about women. The Global State of Harm Reduction 2018 identifies a number of key issues and themes reflected across the world that limit women’s access to harm reduction services, and highlights cases of good practice.

The first case of HIV infection in the Philippines was reported in 1984. Since then, there have been 52,280 confirmed HIV cases reported to the HARP. Ninety-three percent (48,873) were male and 3,396 (7%) were female; there were no data on sex for 11 cases. The median age was 28 years old (age range: 1 year - 82 years; no age data for 73 cases). More than half (26,757 or 51%) were from the 25-34 year age group while 14,655 (28%) were youth 15-24 years old. Seventy-eight percent (40,663) of all the 52,280 diagnosed cases in the Philippines were reported from January 2013 to February 2018.

In October 2018, there were 1,072 new HIV antibody seropositive individuals reported to the HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP). Nineteen percent (208) had clinical manifestations of advanced HIV infection (WHO clinical stage 3 or 4) at the time of diagnosis.