Understanding and comparing HIV-related law and policy environments

Cross-national data and accountability for the global Aids response

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21881090
AutoresMatthew M Kavanagh (0000-0003-1751-4828, Georgetown University, autor de correspondencia), Ellie Graeden (0000-0002-1265-9756, Talus Analytics, Boulder, CO, USA), Mara Pillinger (0000-0002-6692-5407, Georgetown University), Renu Singh (0000-0003-2616-6618, Georgetown University), Stephanie Eaneff (0000-0002-3657-5063, Talus Analytics, Boulder, CO, USA), Victoria Bendaud (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), Rico Gustav (Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS), Taavi Erkkola (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS)
Año2020
Volumen5
Número9
Páginase003695
Fecha de publicación2020-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
EditorialBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003695
PMID32999052
OpenAlexW3090171195
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas10
Referencias citadas32

Law and policy differences help explain why, as HIV-related science has advanced swiftly, some countries have realised remarkable progress on AIDS while others see expanding epidemics. We describe the structure and findings of a new dataset and research platform, the HIV Policy Lab, which fills an important knowledge gap by measuring the HIV-related policy environment across 33 indicators and 194 countries over time, with online access and visualisation. Cross-national indicators can be critical tools in international governance—building social power to monitor state behaviour with the potential to change policy and improve domestic accountability. This new and evolving effort collects data about policy through review of legal documents, official government reports and systematic review of secondary sources. Alignment between national policy environments and global norms is demonstrated through comparison with international public health guidance and agreements. We demonstrate substantial variation in the content of law and policies between countries, regions and policy areas. Given progress in basic and implementation science, it would be tempting to believe most countries have adopted policies aligned with global norms, with a few outliers. Data show this is not the case. Globally, alignment is higher on clinical and treatment policies than on prevention, testing and structural policies. Policy-makers, researchers, civil society, finance agencies and others can use these data to better understand the policy environment within and across countries and support reform. Longitudinal analysis enables evaluation of the impact of laws and policies on HIV outcomes and research about the political drivers of policy choice

Accountability · Family medicine · Health care · Political science · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Human Rights and Development · Law · Medicine · Public Administration · Sex work and related issues · Health Policy