A new paper by Satveer Dhillon, titled “Aging with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review,” examines the experiences of older adults living with HIV/AIDS across the region—an often-overlooked demographic in global health literature and policy. The paper synthesizes findings from 42 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024 using a scoping review methodology.
The review identifies four key thematic areas in the existing literature: knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS among older adults, challenges encountered within healthcare settings, barriers to accessing HIV/AIDS-related care and lived experiences of aging with HIV/AIDS. In response to the gaps identified, the paper highlights the need for more inclusive and age-responsive health strategies. Recommendations include the development of health promotion campaigns tailored to older adults, strengthening the role of community health organizations, integrating age-friendly chronic care models, and implementing pension schemes to enhance financial security.
This research originated during Dhillon’s undergraduate studies, when she joined the GoHelP Lab as a research volunteer. Under the guidance of Dr. Andrea RishworthԻ Dr. Susan J. Elliott, Dhillon began exploring the intersection of aging, health, and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through this work, she became acutely aware of the limited attention paid to older populations in the region, despite projections that SSA will experience the largest global increase in older adults by 2050. "This insight has been instrumental in shaping my academic journey," says Dhillon.