Brisbane, Australia – 26 July 2023
By Alex Ababio
The Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS) has unveiled a significant special issue titled “Person-centred approaches to address the health needs of people living with HIV and co-infections and co-morbidities” during the 12th IAS Conference on HIV Science, IAS 2023.
Guided by Guest Editors Rena Janamnuaysook from the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation in Thailand, Jeffrey Lazarus from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain, and Georgina Caswell from the Global Network of People Living with HIV in South Africa, this groundbreaking issue sheds light on the critical need for person-centred care models for individuals living with HIV and co-infections and co-morbidities.
Despite advancements in HIV care and management, access to person-centred care remains limited and unevenly distributed worldwide. To address this gap, the special issue emphasizes the necessity to:
Empower clients and communities with decision-making authority over their health.
Design HIV-related services based on individual needs, preferences, and demand, while ensuring quality, safety, and long-term engagement.
Recognize health systems as social institutions built on trust, dialogue, and reciprocity.
Prioritize justice, rights, respect, and equity in healthcare delivery.
The collection of articles in this special issue highlights the positive outcomes of people-centred health systems, leading to improved retention in care and better HIV-related results. Establishing such systems requires sustained engagement among stakeholders, co-designed approaches, and feedback mechanisms, along with a systemic shift to address inequities and barriers to implementing person-centred care.
Moreover, the special issue presents evidence and strategies for adopting person-centred health systems globally, while also addressing challenges in their implementation. Despite long-standing institutional barriers hindering progress, the articles demonstrate the ongoing efforts of healthcare systems in promoting equality, trust, and inclusivity by centering on the needs of individuals, families, and communities.
JIAS, founded in 2004, serves as the official peer-reviewed journal of the International AIDS Society (IAS). It provides an open-access platform for evidence dissemination from various HIV-related disciplines, encouraging research from low- and middle-income countries and empowering less-experienced researchers in resource-limited settings.
The 12th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2023) serves as a pivotal platform for presenting cutting-edge HIV research, turning science into actionable policies and practices. The conference, held biennially, brings together over 5,000 scientists, clinicians, public health experts, community leaders, and individuals living with HIV.
The International AIDS Society (IAS) continues to convene, educate, and advocate for a world where HIV no longer poses a threat to public health and individual well-being. By uniting scientists, policymakers, and activists, the IAS strives to galvanize the scientific response, foster global solidarity, and promote dignity for all affected by HIV.
The release of this special issue signifies a significant step towards improving healthcare for those living with HIV and associated conditions, offering hope for a more inclusive and compassionate approach to managing the epidemic globally.