HIV services for refugees in Egypt: an evaluative study

Refugees are a higher risk population for HIV infection due to the absence of proper medical attention and socioeconomic stability during flight and at the country of asylum. Cairo is home to refugees from high conflict regions where sexual violence is prevalent, thus calling for a strong HIV focused care program. This study IS a small scale evaluation of the HIV and AIDS services targeting refugeesâ in Cairo at Refuge-Egyptâ s VCT clinic. This evaluation aims to assess refugeesâ access to preventive methods, testing services as well as the integration within the Egyptian national services. This study takes a qualitative approach to evaluate HIV and AIDS services available to refugees in Cairo. I collected primary data using in-depth interviews to navigate through informantâ s personal experiences with Refuge-Egypt medical services and the HIV program in particular. I employed the concepts of comparison and scanning for a full apprehension of refugeesâ experience with the program. The study uses indicators developed by the UNHCR to assess HIV/AIDS services targeting refugees, I opted to use this set of indicators to compare implementation activities to aspired polices in relation to the Egyptian national program to create a holistic view for the current situation. This research highlights the challenges that face refugeesâ willingness to receive HIV and AIDS related services including HIV clinicâ s location, refugeesâ knowledge of the program in addition to social and medical stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. The findings provide a holistic image of HIV as a medical concern as well a social phenomenon. Informantsâ feedback on the medical program in Refuge-Egypt suggested a number of issues that affects their ability to access health services at the clinic. The clinicâ s physical location in Zamalek Island is a highlighted limitation for refugeesâ ability to receive services they need. The language is another concern that informants express as most of the workers at the clinic speak Arabic or English, which exclude a good percentage of the refugee population in Cairo. This study shows that refugee-focused HIV and AIDS services are integrated with the national program on the policy level however, implementation is restricted by various socioeconomic deterrants that excludes refugees from national services whether due to the poor nature of such services or refugeesâ self-exclusion