HIV/AIDS in Latin America: the challenge ahead

This study reviews information on the epidemiological pattern of the HIV epidemics in Latin America and to gather information on national surveillance capacity and national responses of the health sector in order to identify areas where specific interventions are needed.

Findings include:

• despite relatively high rates of HIV infection in most countries, many Latin American countries have not yet faced a full-scale AIDS epidemic
• HIV/AIDS falls within the framework of a low endemic setting; in the majority of countries the epidemic is still concentrated in high-risk populations
• Latin America has the necessary infrastructure to efficiently and effectively confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic
• however, the capacity to respond has been limited by political, technical and social problems
• several key problems in the areas of prevention, access to health and social services, human rights and national capacity were identified

The results of the study suggest that the main challenges to meeting the current needs are:

• availability of resources
• institutional capacity to provide training in all areas
• cultural, social and religious factors

[adapted from author]