Work

U = U for all: Advancing equity in HIV prevention

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In practice, HIV criminalization disproportionately impacts people from marginalized populations living with HIV, including women, gay men and other men who have sex with men, and sex workers, although this varies by region (2).Laws are often applied without adequate reference to current HIVrelated science, including in cases where exposure or transmission did not or cannot occur (2, 3).Globally, prosecutions for nondisclosure, exposure or transmission of HIV frequently relate to sexual activity, biting or spitting.This includes instances in which no harm was intended, HIV transmission did not occur, and HIV transmission was extremely unlikely or not possible.This suggests prosecutions are not always guided by the best available scientific and medical evidence.HIV criminalization undermines effective HIV prevention, treatment, care and support because fear of prosecution can dissuade people from seeking testing and treatment, and deter people living with or at risk of HIV from talking openly to their medical providers, disclosing their HIV status or using available prevention or treatment services, all of which undermine the HIV response (4-8).

Source: PLoS Medicine

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1005090

Authors: Thiago S. Torres, Paula M. Luz

Institution: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Language: English

Topic: HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,460