Andréa Cristina Vanni, 31 years-old, Brazilian, is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at the HIV/AIDS Research Laboratory of Caxias do Sul University. She is graduated in Pharmacy and has a Master degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. She is involved in epidemiological, clinical and laboratory diagnostics research related to HIV and other STDs. Currently, she is engaged in prevention initiatives and educational social projects involving adolescents and adults in the field of HIV and STDs.\r\n

Caxias do Sul is located in Rio Grande do Sul State which belongs to the region with the highest HIV prevalence in Brazil. This scenario led the HIV/AIDS Research Laboratory (LPHA) of Caxias do Sul University to contribute to the local Health Secretariat and its department of infectious diseases in promoting HIV/AIDS prevention and testing campaigns. We evaluated three cooperative campaigns executed between 2012 and 2014. In 2012, we promoted the “AIDS Week” where information about HIV was broadcasted on local media, educational material and condoms were distributed along the city and 2000 undergraduates were oriented on HIV during college classes. In 2013 and 2014, actions were focused on city main square and we additionally made available HIV, Syphilis and HBV/HCV rapid tests and counseling services. In 2013, the initiative brought 181 individuals and 164 rapid tests were performed, being 2 tests positive for syphilis and 3 for HCV. In 2014, 700 citizens received counseling and 200 tests were performed, being 19 tests positive for syphilis, 5 for HCV and 1 for HIV. We identified general lack of knowledge about HIV and STDs despite Brazilian government continuous efforts on prevention. LPHA’s support permitted approaching and orienting a higher number of individuals, besides expanding testing logistics, what resulted in more people seeking the test and orientation services during and after these initiatives. These facts, summed to the increase of positive tests, highlight the relevance of these actions and their strengthening to promote changes on HIV dissemination pattern in this city

Mohammad Ebrahimi Kalan is graduate student in North Carolina A&T State University in biology department. He has already completed Bachelor\'s degree in Public Health and Master\'s degree inShahidBeheshti University of medical Science and Iran University of Medical Science, respectively. Hestarted another Master degree at A&T just for having some background in the biology

HIV/AIDS emerged one of the most significant public health problems in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The purpose of present study was to examine the association between quality of life (QoL) and stigma in People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). A cross-sectional study was conducted in tow Behavioral Counselling Centers in Tehran and Tabriz, Iran in 2013. Two hundred PLWHA were chosen by G-Power software, the devision was 76.5% (153) male and 23.5% (47) female. The QoL was evaluated using the WHOQol-Bref instrument. For stigma measurments, the questionnaire for Iranian PLWHA which previously reported by same authors was used. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to find out significant differences between stigma and quality of life in PLWHA. The results showed that PLWHA with the imprisonment and drug using history reported low QoL (P<0.001). The influence of stigma ( blaming and distancing, discrimination and fear) upon the QoL as chief independent variable were significant (P<0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.01, respectively). Spiritual domain of QoL showed no significant relationship with stigma\'s domains. However, other domains of QoL had significant relationship with the level of education (Wilks\' Lambda= 0.746, F [24.0, 664.0] =2.42; P<0.001). Our study demonstrated the relationship between QoL and stigma in PLWHA and identified others factors which influencing QoL in these patients. More considerations and studies to improve ways and directions for social behaviors such as \"Stigma\" against PLWHIV should be accorded soaring priority to ensure the improvement of the overall QoL of PLWHA, particularly, in developing countries.