Research Field: HIV and Aids
The HIV epidemic is one of world’s greatest health, political, economic and scientific challenges. For some countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, the large proportion of the population infected with HIV and the lack of resources for prevention and treatment poses an existential threat. In Germany, by contrast, thanks to the solidarity-based statutory health insurance system, people living with HIV and AIDS have full access to treatment and care. Also, timely and systematic state-funded prevention has made it possible to keep infection rates fairly stable. Nevertheless, in Germany as in other post-industrial countries the number of new cases of HIV has recently begun to rise. A concern of public health research is to find ways to counter this trend. Those affected by the disease in Germany are mainly marginalised groups, above all homosexual men, intravenous drug users, certain immigrant communities and people with a low level of education.
The field of HIV/AIDS prevention also represents the first widespread application of New Public Health principles, involving cooperation between governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and community groups to fight a disease. Research on the structures, processes and outcomes of HIV/AIDS prevention provide, therefore, important information for the application of such principles to the prevention and treatment of other diseases, particularly chronic degenerative illnesses prevalent in Europe.
The Research Group Public Health has been working together with service providers, community members and decision-makers for more than 20 years to maximise the effectiveness of HIV prevention and care.. Our quantitative and qualitative research examines the living situation of the groups mainly affected by HIV/AIDS for the purpose of providing data which can support the planning, implementation and evaluation of effective interventions. We are involved in national and international networks with the purpose of developing and coordinating HIV/AIDS research in Europe.
Projects:
Internet Dating and the Perception and Management of HIV Risk
Preventive Sexual Behaviour Among Gay and Bisexual Men over Time (1991–2007) and Their Use of Mass Media and Target-Group-Specific Information About HIV and AIDS
Structures to Strengthen Evaluation and Quality Assurance in the Primary Prevention Work of AIDS Service Organisations
Using Experience - Deepening Knowledge - Improving Practice: Participatory Development of Quality Assurance and Evaluation in Health Promotion
Time Stability in Reducing the Risk of of HIV Transmission among Homosexual Men in Germany 2010