Understanding HIV in Afghanistan: The Emerging Epidemic and Opportunity for Prevention

The newly established Islamic Republic of Afghanistan faces many challenges: pockets of instability around the country, low literacy levels, high levels of opium production, and a lack of basic infrastructure. But what is known about the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Afghanistan? Is Afghanistan at risk of a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic, and if so what can be done? The looming potential of an HIV epidemic in Afghanistan has motivated academics, donors, the Government of Afghanistan, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to undertake research, create policies, and implement programs for the prevention of HIV spread in Afghanistan. Although HIV has been explored to varying degrees by several agencies, data on HIV in Afghanistan remains sparse and information sharing has been largely ad-hoc and uncoordinated.

This report aims to synthesize available information on the HIV epidemic in Afghanistan. The report explores regional HIV transmission patterns, the prevalence of risk factors for HIV in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan’s current programmatic and policy responses for HIV prevention.