About this Research Topic
In the ongoing battle against HIV, key populations often face distinct challenges that increase their likelihood of HIV exposure and acquisition and limit access to vital healthcare services. These groups include women, children and adolescents, people who inject drugs, sexual and gender minorities, and racial and ethnic minorities, among others. These same groups have historically often been excluded from research, and continue to encounter barriers in accessing research and interventions that are culturally responsive to their needs. Innovations in community-driven strategies and healthcare technology are essential for addressing these challenges effectively. Current research highlights the burgeoning role of both traditional practices and cutting-edge technologies in combating HIV, yet gaps remain in our approach to making these solutions available to the communities that need them in a culturally sensitive and accessible manner.
This Research Topic aims to explore and expand evidence-based, innovative community-focused methodologies for the prevention of HIV. Emphasis will be placed on strategies that are not only evidence-based but are also tailored to meet the unique needs of these key populations, with a particular focus on sustainable community engagement and the effective use of digital health tools.
To gather further insights into effective HIV prevention, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Community-based Interventions: successful strategies from peer-led programs to health worker initiatives.
- Technology and Digital Health Solutions: use of social media, mHealth, and telemedicine platforms to engage and educate key populations.
- Behavioral and Social Sciences Research: studies on societal influences and social determinants of health on health behaviors and delivery of HIV prevention services.
- GPP and community involvement in biomedical advances (: breakthroughs in PrEP, vaccines, microbicides, broadly neutralizing antibodies, and diagnostic innovations).
- Inclusion of Key Populations: best practices to engage and educate key populations in a variety of geographic settings, results from demonstration programs serving key populations to encourage replication of successful efforts
- Policy and Advocacy: analysis of policies' effects on prevention of disease and healthcare access, engagement of advocates to advance research and prevention programs.
- Integration of services: Community-centred synergies and challenges in combining HIV prevention with broader health services.
- Ethical and Legal Considerations: critical discussions on participants’ rights, confidentiality, and impacts of new technology.
Through a multidisciplinary lens, this collection aspires to build a robust knowledge base that can drive forward the global effort to mitigate the public health impact of HIV and support future prevention efforts.
This Research Topic aims to explore and expand evidence-based, innovative community-focused methodologies for the prevention of HIV. Emphasis will be placed on strategies that are not only evidence-based but are also tailored to meet the unique needs of these key populations, with a particular focus on sustainable community engagement and the effective use of digital health tools.
To gather further insights into effective HIV prevention, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Community-based Interventions: successful strategies from peer-led programs to health worker initiatives.
- Technology and Digital Health Solutions: use of social media, mHealth, and telemedicine platforms to engage and educate key populations.
- Behavioral and Social Sciences Research: studies on societal influences and social determinants of health on health behaviors and delivery of HIV prevention services.
- GPP and community involvement in biomedical advances (: breakthroughs in PrEP, vaccines, microbicides, broadly neutralizing antibodies, and diagnostic innovations).
- Inclusion of Key Populations: best practices to engage and educate key populations in a variety of geographic settings, results from demonstration programs serving key populations to encourage replication of successful efforts
- Policy and Advocacy: analysis of policies' effects on prevention of disease and healthcare access, engagement of advocates to advance research and prevention programs.
- Integration of services: Community-centred synergies and challenges in combining HIV prevention with broader health services.
- Ethical and Legal Considerations: critical discussions on participants’ rights, confidentiality, and impacts of new technology.
Through a multidisciplinary lens, this collection aspires to build a robust knowledge base that can drive forward the global effort to mitigate the public health impact of HIV and support future prevention efforts.
Keywords: HIV prevention, Key populations, Community-Based interventions, Digital Health solutions, Biomedical advance
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
