The World Health Organization (WHO) provides consolidated guidelines addressing the critical aspects of HIV, viral hepatitis, and Sti Diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and care for key populations. These guidelines are specifically designed to support men who have sex with men, transgender and gender diverse individuals, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and individuals in prisons and similar settings.
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by these key populations, the guidelines emphasize that social, legal, and structural barriers significantly increase their vulnerability to HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs, hindering their access to essential health services, including timely and accurate STI diagnosis. Addressing these systemic barriers is highlighted as a paramount priority across all settings to effectively combat these health issues.
Despite the disproportionate burden of these infections on key populations, service coverage and quality often remain inadequate. These WHO guidelines serve as a vital resource for countries to prioritize reaching key populations, empowering communities to lead the response, and ensuring equitable, accessible, and acceptable services, particularly concerning STI diagnosis and subsequent care. By implementing these recommendations, public health systems can significantly improve health outcomes and reduce disparities.
Related Resources
- Policy brief: Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations
- Recommended package of enabling and health interventions for HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for trans and gender diverse people
- Recommended package of interventions for HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for men who have sex with men
- Recommended package of interventions for HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for sex workers
- Recommended package of interventions for HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for people in prisons and other closed settings
- Recommended package of interventions for HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for people who inject drugs
- New good practice statement on counselling behavioural interventions for key populations to prevent HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs
- Key populations
