Global HIV/AIDS: CDC plays a unique role in the fight against global HIV/AIDS

As the U.S. science-based public health and disease prevention agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays an essential role in implementing the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). CDC uses its technical expertise in public health science and long-standing relationships with Ministries of Health across the globe to work side-by-side with countries to build strong national programs and sustainable public health systems that can respond effectively to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and to other diseases that threaten the health and prosperity of the global community at large. Ensuring global health strengthens U.S. health, economic, and national security. Improving the health of people in developing countries also impacts the productivity and political stability of those nations. This results in a safer, more prosperous, and secure world community that benefits Americans at home and abroad.All CDC global HIV/AIDS activities are implemented by the Division of Global HIV/AIDS, CDC Center for Global Health, as part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).March 2013.Mode of access: Internet from the CDC web site as an Acrobat .pdf file (493.05 KB, 2 p.)

Global HIV/AIDS: CDC plays a unique role in the fight against global HIV/AIDS

As the U.S. science-based public health and disease prevention agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays an essential role in implementing the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). CDC uses its technical expertise in public health science and long-standing relationships with Ministries of Health across the globe to work side-by-side with countries to build strong national programs and sustainable public health systems that can respond effectively to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and to other diseases that threaten the health and prosperity of the global community at large. Ensuring global health strengthens U.S. health, economic, and national security. Improving the health of people in developing countries also impacts the productivity and political stability of those nations. This results in a safer, more prosperous, and secure world community that benefits Americans at home and abroad.All CDC global HIV/AIDS activities are implemented by the Division of Global HIV/AIDS, CDC Center for Global Health, as part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).December 2012.Mode of access: Internet from the CDC web site as an Acrobat .pdf file (469.48 KB, 2 p.)

A prospective, cross-sectional study of anaemia and peripheral iron status in antiretroviral naïve, HIV-1 infected children in Cape Town, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is a common manifestation of paediatric HIV infection. Although there are many causes, anaemia of chronic diseases is the most frequent type. In poor countries iron deficiency is widespread. It is probable that many HIV-infected children in these countries are also iron deficient. This study describes the relationship between paediatric HIV infection and anaemia, and documents the peripheral iron status of antiretroviral naive, HIV-infected children. METHODS: Sixty children were evaluated prospectively. Investigations included CD4+ count, haemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) morphology, and iron studies. RESULTS: Anaemia was present in 73% of children. Compared to mild HIV infection, median Hb was lower in children with moderate clinical infection (104 g/L v 112 g/L, p = 0.04) and severe clinical infection (96 g/L v 112 g/L, p = 0.006), and more children with severe infection were anaemic (92% v 58%, 0.04). There was a significant relationship between immunological status and Hb. 68% had abnormal RBC morphology. Significantly more children with moderate and severe disease, and severe immunosuppression had abnormal RBC morphology. 52% were iron-depleted, 20% had iron-deficient erythropoiesis and 18% iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). 16% (7/44) of anaemic children had microcytosis and hypochromia. Median soluble transferrin receptor concentration was significantly higher in those with microcytic hypochromic anaemia (42.0 nmol/L v 30.0 nmol/L, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Both the proportion of anaemic children and the median Hb were associated with disease status. Iron depletion and IDA are major problems in HIV-infected children in South Africa

Reducing HIV Risks Among Active Injection Drug and Crack Users: The Safety Counts Program

The efficacy of Safety Counts, a CDC-diffused intervention, was reanalyzed. In a quasi experimental, cross-over design, injection drug users (IDU) and crack users in two neighborhoods were assigned by neighborhood to receive individual Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing or Safety Counts and 78% were reassessed at 5–9 months. Drug users in the Safety Counts program reported significantly greater reductions in risky sex, crack and hard drug use, and risky drug injection. The more sessions of Safety Counts attended, the greater were the reductions in risky acts. Different analytic decisions result in very different findings for the same intervention. Safety Counts is an effective intervention for IDU and crack users. Analytic decision of intervention outcomes is highly related to evaluations of an intervention’s efficacy