USAID blog examines structural issues fueling HIV epidemic

"During the recent International [XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012)] in Washington, D.C., exciting breakthroughs in HIV prevention, treatment, and care -- even a possible cure -- took center stage," but, "despite recent advances, many men and women remain at risk of HIV as a result of structural issues that fuel and have an impact on the epidemic," Molly Fitzgerald, technical advisor for AIDSTAR-One, writes in this post in USAID's "Impact Blog." "Addressing gender inequality, poverty, stigma, and other social, economic, cultural, and legal factors is necessary to create an 'enabling environment' for these promising biomedical and behavioral interventions," she continues, noting, "There is increasing agreement worldwide that structural issues are too often overlooked where HIV prevalence remains high" (8/16).