HIV prevention – Challenges in reaching Libyan women: A narrative review

IF 2.7 Q2 OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Womens Health Pub Date : 2022-01-01 DOI:10.1177/17455057221080832

Abier Hamidi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: The need to effectively communicate HIV/AIDS prevention messages in Libya, where HIV prevalence is relatively low yet increasing, cannot be overstressed. A review of the literature on HIV prevalence, risk factors, stigma and awareness found that there is a lack of HIV research, information and support in the country. This is particularly true regarding women, who account for 25%–30% of people living with HIV in Libya. Aim: Drawing on the various literature, this narrative review will (1) present a historical trajectory of Libyan women and their role in society and (2) identify some challenges that HIV prevention programmes face in reaching Libyan women. Methods: Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Cochrane Library were searched for English and Arabic language articles. Primary research studies and official reports indicating a discussion or research on HIV in Libya and Libyan women were considered. Reference lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional studies. Thirty-seven articles dating from 1987 to 2021 were selected and critically appraised. Results: There is a lack of sufficient information within the existing literature, but the gathered literature did reveal some significant insights. Factors such as limited sexual health education, inadequate medical services, social and cultural restrictions and stigma, as well as limited agency, were identified as potential barriers to women accessing crucial information on HIV. Conclusion: The article found that the HIV prevention efforts that have been carried out in Libya may be compromised as they were not designed to recognize and adhere to sociocultural norms that impact on Libyan women’s scope for choice and agency. By understanding the interplay between gender, social and structural factors in Libya, a model of better adjusted prevention and early intervention activities could be developed; a toolkit that conceptualizes the culture and that appreciates the role of a Libyan woman is changing.

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艾滋病预防-利比亚妇女面临的挑战:述评

导言:在利比亚，艾滋病毒流行率相对较低，但仍在上升，有效传播艾滋病毒/艾滋病预防信息的必要性怎么强调都不为过。对有关艾滋病毒流行、风险因素、污名化和认识的文献的回顾发现，该国缺乏艾滋病毒研究、信息和支持。这对妇女来说尤其如此，她们占利比亚艾滋病毒感染者的25%-30%。目的:利用各种文献，这篇叙述性综述将(1)呈现利比亚妇女的历史轨迹及其在社会中的作用，(2)确定艾滋病预防计划在接触利比亚妇女方面面临的一些挑战。方法:检索Medline、PubMed、Web of Science、ScienceDirect、Scopus和Cochrane Library的英文和阿拉伯文文章。会议审议了关于利比亚和利比亚妇女艾滋病毒的讨论或研究的初步研究和官方报告。查阅文献列表以确定其他研究。从1987年到2021年的37篇文章被选中并进行了严格的评估。结果:现有文献中缺乏足够的信息，但收集到的文献确实揭示了一些重要的见解。性健康教育有限、医疗服务不足、社会和文化限制和耻辱以及代理有限等因素被确定为妇女获得关于艾滋病毒的关键信息的潜在障碍。结论:这篇文章发现，在利比亚开展的艾滋病预防工作可能会受到损害，因为它们没有被设计成承认和坚持影响利比亚妇女选择和代理范围的社会文化规范。通过了解利比亚性别、社会和结构因素之间的相互作用，可以制定一种更好地调整预防和早期干预活动的模式;一个将文化概念化并重视利比亚妇女角色的工具包正在发生变化。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Womens Health OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY-

CiteScore

2.80

自引率

4.20%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： For many diseases, women’s physiology and life-cycle hormonal changes demand important consideration when determining healthcare management options. Age- and gender-related factors can directly affect treatment outcomes, and differences between the clinical management of, say, an adolescent female and that in a pre- or postmenopausal patient may be either subtle or profound. At the same time, there are certain conditions that are far more prevalent in women than men, and these may require special attention. Furthermore, in an increasingly aged population in which women demonstrate a greater life-expectancy.