The World Health Organization (WHO) has published consolidated guidelines to improve HIV prevention, Diagnosis Care, treatment, and overall support for key populations. This comprehensive document integrates existing WHO recommendations relevant to five specific groups: men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, individuals in prisons and closed settings, sex workers, and transgender people. The guidelines also include updated recommendations and evidence-based practices.
These guidelines are specifically designed to increase global awareness of the unique needs and critical issues faced by key populations in accessing HIV services. The primary goals are to significantly improve access, expand coverage, and increase the uptake of effective and acceptable HIV-related services. Ultimately, WHO aims to catalyze stronger national and international commitments to ensure adequate funding and resources are allocated to these essential services.
The guidelines are supplemented by several annexes, which offer in-depth information including systematic reviews on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs. Further annexes explore the values and preferences of key populations, effective health interventions for prisoners, and practical examples of successful programs serving key populations on the ground. Additionally, the guidelines link to a related tool designed to assist in setting and monitoring targets for HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care initiatives specifically tailored for key populations. For more detailed information, the complete guidelines and annexes are available for download.
