Science Publishes Series of Articles on HIV/AIDS Epidemics in Latin America, Caribbean
Science magazine correspondent Jon Cohen examines the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean in a special, freely-available series of articles. Links to the articles from the issue appear below.- "Argentina: Up in Smoke: Epidemic Changes Course" (Cohen [1], Science, 7/28).
- "Belize: Taking it to the Streets" (Cohen [2], Science, 7/28).
- "Brazil: Ten Years After" (Cohen [3], Science, 7/28).
- "Brazil: Free Drugs [Does Not Equal] Quality Care" (Cohen [4], Science, 7/28).
- "Dominican Republic: A Sour Taste on the Sugar Plantations" (Cohen [5], Science, 7/28).
- "Dominican Republic: The Sun. The Sand. The Sex." (Cohen [6], Science, 7/28).
- "Guatemala: Struggling To Deliver Promises and Assess HIV's Spread" (Cohen [7], Science, 7/28).
- "Haiti: Making Headway Under Hellacious Circumstances" (Cohen [8], Science, 7/28).
- "Honduras: Mission Possible: Integrating the Church With HIV/AIDS Efforts" (Cohen [9], Science, 7/28).
- "Honduras: Why so High? A Knotty Story" (Cohen [10], Science, 7/28).
- "Mexico: Land of Extremes: Prevention and Care Range from Bold to Bleak" (Cohen [11], Science, 7/28).
- "Mexico: Prevention Programs Target Migrants" (Cohen [12], Science, 7/28).
- "Overview: The Overlooked Epidemic" (Cohen [13], Science, 7/28).
- "Peru: A New Nexus for HIV/AIDS Research" (Cohen [14], Science, 7/28).
- "Peru: Universal Access: More Goal Than Reality" (Cohen [15], Science, 7/28).
- "Puerto Rico: Ample Monkeys and Money Nurture Robust Research" (Cohen [16], Science, 7/28).
- "Puerto Rico: Rich Port, Poor Port" (Cohen [17], Science, 7/28).
The magazine and the global media company Biocompare also released a video presentation on HIV/AIDS in the region which includes interviews, maps and film clips. In addition, Science released an opinion piece by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci and a photo essay with photos by Malcolm Linton and commentary by Cohen (Science, 7/28). Reporting for the series was supported in part by a fellowship to Cohen from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
HealthDay News/Forbes Examines Cohen's View
Some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean might provide some of the best examples for fighting HIV/AIDS epidemics, according to Cohen, HealthDay News/Forbes reports. About two million HIV-positive people are estimated to live in Latin America and the Caribbean, and about 90,000 in the region die of AIDS-related causes annually, according to HealthDay News/Forbes. In addition, about 68% of those in the Caribbean and Latin America who need antiretroviral drugs are receiving them. "Poorer countries have greater challenges and by and large are doing worse," Cohen said, adding, "But there are so many exceptions." He said that he found many differences throughout the region and within countries in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, adding that some countries such as Haiti have shown that "[e]ven with the poorest people in the world, there's a way to get them treatment" (HealthDay News/Forbes, 7/28).