Is PEPFAR Funding for Key Populations Aligned with the Epidemiologic Burden?

Jul 15, 2016
  • Description

Key populations (KPs)—gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); people who inject drugs (PWID), female sex workers (FSW); and transgender people (TG)—are at significantly higher risk for HIV, face a higher burden of disease, have less access to services, are frequently the target of stigma and discrimination, and are criminalized in many countries. Sustaining progress in fighting the epidemic will require focused attention and resources targeting KPs. A research team at amfAR recently evaluated the extent to which funds from the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) were allocated to programs targeting KPs in proportion to their epidemic burden.