PLOS Global Public Health commemorates World AIDS Day

Every year on World AIDS Day, we pause to reflect on the progress made in the fight against HIV and AIDS, while recognizing the challenges that remain. It is a day of remembrance for the millions of lives lost, and a call to action to continue advancing prevention, treatment, and equity in global health. The HIV epidemic has shaped public health for more than four decades, and the lessons learned continue to inform how we respond to emerging health crises today.

In this post, we highlight recent research published in PLOS Global Public Health that sheds light on the evolving landscape of HIV and AIDS. From studies on stigma and access to care, to innovative approaches in prevention and treatment, these papers underscore the importance of community‑driven solutions and evidence‑based strategies. Together, they remind us that progress is possible when science, policy, and lived experience intersect — and that the fight against HIV remains a defining challenge for global health.

Here is just a snippet of recently published research from the PLOS Global Public Health archives. You can explore all our published work here, and you can submit your original research to us at any time via this link.

Untreated HIV-1 infection and low CD4+ T cell counts and their effect on endemic human coronavirus (re)infection

People living with HIV-1 (PLWH) treated with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) have similar incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to people without HIV-1 (PWoH). Yet, roughly 25% PLWH worldwide are currently not accessing cART. The influence of CD4⁺ T cell depletion on human coronavirus (HCoV) (re)infection risk, including SARS-CoV-2, is largely unknown. This study investigated the incidence of infection by the four endemic HCoVs (HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-HKU1), to inform on future reinfections by SARS-CoV-2. 

“I can’t fail. And my son can’t fail.”: Caregiver perspectives on supporting youth to self-manage their HIV in Ndola, Zambia

Adolescents and young adults (AYA, aged 15–24) living with HIV have suboptimal antiretroviral treatment adherence compared to their adult counterparts, raising concerns of poor health and drug resistance. While it is known that AYA require caregiver and family support to successfully transition to HIV self-management, there has been limited engagement with caregivers to this end. To fill this gap, this study examined caregivers’ experiences of navigating their youth’s HIV self-management to better inform interventions that seek to improve AYA’s HIV self-care and treatment outcomes. 

Geospatial and phylogenetic clustering of acute and recent HIV infections in Lilongwe, Malawi

HIV transmission during early HIV infection impedes efforts to end HIV as a public health threat, as diagnosis typically occurs after this period of elevated transmission risk. To guide diagnosis and prevention strategies, this study evaluated the geospatial and phylogenetic clustering of acute and recent HIV infection in Lilongwe, Malawi. Researchers identified people with acute (pre-seroconversion) HIV infection (AHI) and a random sample of people with post-acute HIV infection who presented to a sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi between 2015 and 2019. 

Intersectional HIV stigma in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean: Insights and pathways forward – A scoping review

Research has recently surged on intersectional HIV stigma, including how intersecting stigmatized identities and socio-structural conditions influence HIV prevention and treatment outcomes. However, most of this work has been concentrated in high-income settings. This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of research on intersectional HIV stigma in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Incidence of antiretroviral therapy regimen modification and associated factors among People Living with HIV in Beijing, China

Durability of the initially prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen is critical for long-term virologic suppression among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, data on the incidence of regimen modification and its associated factors remain limited in China. This study aims to quantify the incidence of initially prescribed ART modification and identify associated baseline factors in China. 

Evaluation of the SKILLZ intervention to promote HIV testing and contraception uptake in adolescent girls in Lusaka, Zambia: A cluster-randomized trial

Adolescent girls are at disproportionately high-risk for HIV and unintended pregnancy. Effective interventions to increase uptake of HIV testing and contraceptives are urgently needed. This cluster-randomized controlled trial in 46 schools in Lusaka, Zambia evaluated the SKILLZ intervention: (a) 12 after-school sessions of sexuality and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education culminating in a community “graduation” soccer event where a pop-up clinic offered HIV testing and contraception; (b) for those HIV positive, coach-assisted linkage to HIV care, interpersonal group psychotherapy, or youth-friendly SRH services; and (c) community-based distribution of HIV self-testing and contraceptives. 

Stakeholder considerations on acceptability and implementation of a novel rapid test for acute HIV infection: A qualitative study in Indiana

Acute HIV infection (AHI) is the most infectious stage of HIV, yet existing rapid tests cannot reliably detect HIV in this early phase and require up to 90 days post-exposure for accurate results. Laboratory-based nucleic acid tests can detect AHI but are often inaccessible to high-risk populations with limited healthcare access. Novel rapid AHI tests are in development to bridge this gap by enabling earlier, decentralized detection. This study aims to explore the acceptability and future implementation considerations of such a test through engagement with clients (n = 5) and staff (n = 14) of Indiana-based HIV service organizations.

Factors associated with HIV infection and the utilization of HIV testing services among transgender people in Georgia

This study assessed factors associated with HIV infection as well as the utilization of HIV testing among transgender people (TGs) in the country of Georgia.