Foreword

It is estimated that about 35 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV/AIDS and, fortunately, the number of AIDS deaths and new infections is also declining. The introduction of antiretroviral therapy for effective control and prevention has had a great role to play in reducing this infection. Further, age of HIV-infected patients have been markedly increased so that the issues related to “HIV and aging” are discussed in more details by many textbooks and articles. However, fundamental challenges still remain such as HIV stigma and discrimination, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, access to high-risk groups including homosexuals and vulnerable women, types of intervention and their effectiveness on high risk groups, as well as achieving commitment to agreed goals by countries.

A textbook may be required to address new developments on the HIV/AIDS from different aspects. The present book can be regarded as a useful resource on HIV for researchers, clinicians, and others dealing with HIV. It provides a review of hot topics in HIV/AIDS compiled by Iranian and foreign experts. Indeed, edited by Dr. SeyedAlinaghi, the book covers important basic, epidemiological and clinical research aspects and presents updated information to readers. It also refers to a number of new issues which have not been extensively studied.

We truly appreciate all the authors who help the editor by writing the book chapters, and hope to provide valuable information to readers and receive positive feedback for our work.