Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

HIV among Peacekeepers and its Likely Impact on Prevalence on Host Countries' HIV Epidemics

2009; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 16; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/13533310903036400

1743-906X

Massimo Lowicki-Zucca, Sarah Karmin, Karl-Lorenz Dehne,

International Development and Aid

Abstract Concerns have been expressed with regard to the public health impact of HIV-positive peacekeepers in the countries in which they serve. This article tests three common contentions: (1) that troop contributing countries have higher prevalence than that of the host country; (2) that HIV prevalence of the peacekeeping mission is higher than that of the host country; and (3) that peacekeepers have a large public health impact on the HIV epidemics of the host countries. Using 2008 prevalence data as well as mission information from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, this article argues against these notions. Acknowledgements The statements in this article and the views of the authors do not necessarily reflect the policies or the views of UNICEF or UNAIDS. We thank Dr Megh Gurung, HIV/AIDS Policy Adviser, and Semra Asefa, HIV/AIDS Coordination Officer, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, for their important suggestions in terms of language and context, and James Hedges for his analysis of sources. Notes Christopher Wren, 'UN Council Addresses HIV/AIDS in its Forces', New York Times, 20 Jan. 2001 (at http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5D8143CF933A157sC0A9679C8B63). UNAIDS, On the Front Line: A Review of Policies and Programmes to Address HIV/AIDS among Peacekeepers and Uniformed Services: Engaging Uniformed Services in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, 2003 (at: http://data.unaids.org/Publications/IRC-pub05/JC950FrontLine_en.pdf ). Ibid. 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