HIV/AIDS in the Western Balkans: Priorities for Early Prevention in a High-risk Environment (World Bank Working Papers) (World Bank Working Papers)

In recent years, Europe and Central Asia has experienced the world’s fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. Yet, in the Western Balkan countries the HIV prevalence rate is under 0.1 percent, which ranks among the lowest. This may be due to a low level of infection among the population—or partly due to inadequate surveillance systems. All major contributing factors for the breakout of an HIV/AIDS epidemic are present in the Western Balkans. HIV/AIDS disproportionably affects youth (80 percent of HIV-infected people are 30 years old or younger). Most of the Western Balkan countries have very young populations, which have been affected by the process of social transition, wars, unemployment and other factors. Among youth, there is generalized use of drugs and sexual risk behavior. Therefore, the number of cases of HIV has been increasing, especially in Serbia, and the incidence of Hepatitis C has clearly increased, which suggests that sharing of infected needles is practiced by injecting drug users. Apart from human suffering, an HIV/AIDS epidemic can have a significant impact on costs of care for individuals, households, health services and society as a whole. This study has found weak public health systems and gaps in financing and institutional capacity necessary to implement evidence-based and cost-effective HIV/AIDS Strategies. Political commitment must increase for action to occur promptly. Prevention interventions are cost effective and, in the short term, affordable with own-country resources. Medium- and long-term interventions would require donor assistance. Longer-term interventions would aim at preventing poverty, exclusion and unemployment, for example, by empowering young people to participate in the regional and global labor market. Published by the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, a consortium made up of 31 public and private agencies that provide financial services for the poor in developing countries, this volume describes the past 10 years of their work in microfinance. Helms explains the group's clients and their needs, such as loans and savings accounts; financial service providers at the micro, meso, and macro levels; the role of the government; and international and domestic funding sources. The last chapter discusses key issues in technology, leveraging remittances, reaching farmers and rural clients, measuring social performance, and protecting poor consumers. Annotation :2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) 1. Introduction -- 2. Hiv/aids In The Western Balkans -- 3. National Responses To Hiv/aids In The Western Balkans -- 4. Recommendations For Region-wide Activities -- 5. The World Bank Role -- 6. Profile : Albania -- 7. Profile : Bosnia And Herzegovina -- 8. Profile : Macedonia -- 9. Profile : Serbia -- 10. Profile : Montenegro -- 11. Profile : Kosovo. Joana Godinho ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 189-195). The AIDS pandemic has entered its third decade worldwide, being the fourth most important cause of death globally.