 Although the weak HIV/AIDS surveillance system in the MENA region indicates a low prevalence scenario, risk factors for the spread of the infection exist in the region. The four key interrelated risk factors present in most of the countries of the region are (1) behavioral risks such as injecting drug use (IDU), commercial sex work (CSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), persons with multiple sex partners, unprotected sexual activities; (2) rising youth population who are particularly at high risk of infection; (3) sexually transmitted infections and low condom use; and (4) structural factors (such as poverty, unemployment of youth, labor migration, gender inequality, gender-based violence, discrimination, and so on), conflict, and refugees. While the epidemic in the region is currently limited to high-risk groups, these are not an isolated group and their interactions with the general populace put the whole region at risk. Interrupting the transmission of the infection to the general populace is crucial and needs to be done in a timely manner. As prevalence rates rise, the impact on human cost begins to shift from being limited to a personal-level issue of the pain and guilt surrounding intimate relationships to a state level issue threatening economic, social, and political securities.
Press Release - English | Arabic | French Fact Sheets - English (143K pdf) | Arabic (121K pdf) | French (497K pdf) Audio Interview with Bachir Souhlal, Lead Social Development Specialist and contributing author
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