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The Unit's research into HIV testing has led to impacts on health policy (WHO and NICE guidelines) and services relating to HIV testing amongst vulnerable populations across Europe, and particularly, Scotland. The policies related to the frequency of HIV testing, increases in sites available for testing, and the scope of interventions to promote testing. These policies have contributed to significant increases in HIV testing, and a reduction in undiagnosed HIV infection, HIV related ill-health and AIDS deaths. For people living with HIV, this has enabled improved quality of life, better health and contributions to society.
Interdisciplinary research conducted in the School of International Development (2003-4) demonstrated for the first time high HIV prevalence and AIDS incidence among 0.5 billion people in fishing-dependent communities across the world. Subsequent research analysed the causes and suggested new strategies for development assistance and health service delivery. Dissemination of these insights to stakeholders generated significant post-2008 impacts on national government, international agency and NGO policies and programmes, contributing to improved access to prevention, treatment and care for hundreds of thousands of people. The research improved HIV/AIDS mainstreaming in natural resource sector governance and development programmes via training manuals, toolkits and policy briefs.
This case study focuses on impact that has occurred because of the research of faculty member Lucy Allais in the areas of disease and sexual health. Impact includes:
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organisation (WHO) regularly report estimates for the prevalence of HIV and associated metrics for almost every country in the world. These statistics are essential for tracking the scale and the impact of HIV epidemic and are used routinely in the policy decisions and funding allocation decisions of national governments and international donors and therefore have a major impact on international public health. The methods underlying those estimates were originally developed, and continue to be refined and updated, by an international group of researchers at Imperial College London.
Research carried out by LSHTM into the effects of male circumcision on HIV prevention has led to important policy recommendations by WHO and UNAIDS, the joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS. The research showed a strongly reduced risk of HIV infection among circumcised men, and modelling studies estimated that male circumcision programmes in 13 priority countries in Africa could avert 4m HIV infections by 2025. Members of the research team serve on key international advisory groups, and these results have been widely used to underpin international policy guidelines.
This case describes Professor Weait's research into the impact of punitive laws relating to HIV transmission and exposure and against people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV). His work has informed the development of policy on criminal liability for HIV transmission and exposure by UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the National AIDS Trust (NAT). It has led directly to invitations to contribute at international policy fora as well as civil society and professional medical organisations. His research has been acknowledged judicially; has contributed to the UK Crown Prosecution Services' guidelines on this issue; and involved knowledge transfer to, and consequent capacity enhancement of the activities of various interest and community groups.
The research into the main socio-cultural causes, consequences and management of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa (undertaken by Dr Liz Walker, in collaboration with colleagues in South Africa) has had significant impact in South Africa on the development of the education and training of health and social care professionals working in the context of, and specializing in, HIV/AIDS. The programme of research has resulted in the production of an educational and training resource that is used in HEIs and other professional training settings. The educational resource is unique as it foregrounds HIV/AIDS as the context within which all health and social care practice is undertaken in Southern Africa.
Six million South Africans are currently infected with HIV and two million have died from AIDS- related diseases. Initially seen solely from a medical perspective, there is now recognition of social and cultural factors, such as witchcraft, that have shaped the pandemic. Niehaus's research findings, which have been disseminated beyond the academic domain, form part of a diverse body of social scientific literature on HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Niehaus's work has (i) enhanced cultural understandings; (ii) shaped public debate; (iii) contributed towards the training of health personnel; (iv) assisted the work of legal practitioners; and (v) assisted in the production of cultural artefacts.
Research at the University of Glasgow (UoG) has helped faith-based organisations and their non-religious counterparts to develop a better understanding of the effects of Christian beliefs and practices on public health and international development goals. Our research and engagement strategies have benefitted the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and its partners by educating staff and influencing, in particular, HIV policy. It has also led to greater understanding of religious resistance to the language of development as used in the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and the United Nations Population Fund, encouraging dialogue between UN staff and historically disengaged conservative religious groups.
Research conducted by Professor Jonathan Elford of City University London among people living with HIV in East London has had significant impact in the UK as a whole. The National AIDS Trust (NAT) used key findings from the research on employment, immigration and poverty in its submissions to the House of Commons. This led to: