Unlike most countries, Russia’s HIV epidemic is growing, with the rate of new infections rising by between 10 and 15% each year. It is estimated that over 250 people become infected with HIV every day.
Although West and Central Africa’s HIV epidemic is generalised, meaning it affects the population as a whole, HIV prevalence among sex workers, people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men is significantly higher than prevalence among the general population.
The production of opiate drugs in many Middle East and North African countries has led to an increase of prisoners and people who inject drugs - groups particularly vulnerable to HIV infection.
Homophobia and the ‘machismo’ (strong/aggressive masculinity) culture are common throughout the region and sex between men is highly stigmatised. As a result, large numbers of men who have sex with men do not identify as homosexual (or bisexual) and have sex with women as well as men, forming a 'bridge' population.
Latin America has shown strong commitment to funding their HIV response, yet services for high risk groups are left out of the national response and are funded by donors.
The HIV epidemic is concentrated in key countries: over half of new infections in the region occurred in the USA and a quarter were across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the UK.