Implementing Geospatial Science and Technology to Get to Zero New HIV Infections.

Abstract

Tremendous advancements have been made in HIV treatment and prevention during the last 40years that zero new HIV cases has become an attainable goal declared by international agencies. However, new cases of HIV infection persist. The emerging field of geospatial science is positioned to play key role in the reduction of continued HIV incidence through technology-driven interventions and innovative research that gives insights into at-risk populations. As these methods become more utilized, findings consistently show the important role of location and environment plays in HIV incidence and treatment adherence. This includes distance to HIV provider, locations of where HIV transmissions occurs compared to where people with HIV reside, and how geospatial technology has been leveraged to identify unique insights among varying groups of those at increased risk for HIV, among others. Given these insights, leveraging geospatial technology would play a prominent role in achieving zero new cases of HIV infections.