Understanding the context of providing HIV prevention and treatment in Papua New Guinea

The HIV epidemic in Papua New Guinea is now described as a generalized epidemic; that is, more than 1% of people aged 15 to 49 years are infected with HIV. The individual behavior of people is not the single most important factor that places them at risk of infection and drives the spread of the epidemic. Rather, a diverse range of factors—biological, sociocultural, and political—makes people vulnerable to infection and dictates their access to care and treatment services. This article examines these biological, sociocultural, and political influences on the HIV epidemic and on prevention and treatment strategies in Papua New Guinea.