A COMPARISON OF HIV/AIDS HEALTH POLICY IN SELECTED DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to be major global public health issues. Approximately 34 million have died since the first five cases were described in 1981 and currently, 36.9 million are estimated to be living with the disease. New HIV infections globally have declined by 35% since 2000 and this can be attributed to the HIV/AIDS health policies and prevention programmes by various countries. Health policy refers to decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society. This article aims to compare the HIV/AIDS policies of three developed (the United States of America, United Kingdom and Australia) and three developing (Nigeria, India and Sudan) countries and their impact on HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of literature and country reports on HIV/AIDS policies and prevention programmes in the above mentioned developed and developing countries were performed.

Result: While all the six countries that were reviewed have their own health policy in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, it was observed that a more prompt decline in HIV infection was in the economically buoyant countries compared to the developing countries.

Conclusion:  Attributing factors to the different outcomes of the HIV/AIDS prevention programmes can be listed as difference in the policy statements, timing of their implementations, commitments of the governments, financial and political stability of the government, healthcare infrastructure & delivery system and also the involvement of the international and national Non Profit Government Agencies (NGOs).

Keywords: HIV, AIDS, Health Policy, USA, UK, Australia, Nigeria, India, Sudan