Abstract

Introduction/Objective: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has few recorded outputs regarding the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) infections associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). When we went through the HIV/AIDS in MENA, we found a hole in the scientific publications. Attention towards this issue progressed recently though, with few pre-clinical studies conducted. In the current review, we collected comprehensive data of HIV epidemiology in MENA and discussed the main challenges facing clinicians in charge with ailments in MENA and recommended some prevention strategies. The antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been present globally, thus delaying the world enterprise of providing new therapeutics and preventative candidates, even in rich nations such as Saudi Arabia. Methods: This review article following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and covering the most of MENA countries. PubMed, Embase, regional and international databases, as well as country-level reports were searched up to 2016. Primary studies reporting the prevalence/incidence of HIV, the prevalence of injecting or sexual risk behaviors, the proportion of risks in MENA, were eligible for inclusion. The quantity and geographic coverage of the data were assessed at country level. Prevention and challenges were also reported. Results and conclusion: Recently, numerous MENA countries did a remarkable effort to scale-up their awareness to this rising epidemic by developing tactics to tackle HIV and establishing national health-care programs. The scaling-up and developing of ART is very important in MENA. However, MENA has the lowest ART attention in the world, and the implementation of the WHO guidelines is likely to generate an even greater gap between those eligible for treatment and those receiving it, owing to either lack of medical awareness or adequate insurance, as well as cultural and social barriers. These issues stand as solid obstacles to effectively apply the HIV prevention system in MENA. Few countries in MENA have already established efficient programs to tackle HIV transmission from mothers to their kids, by frequent testing and care.

Authors and Affiliations