Disability and Biomedical HIV Prevention: The Missing Equity Dimension.

Authors

Francesco De Maria, Paolo Fusco, Alessandro Russo

Published in

Viruses. Volume 18. Issue 9. Sep 14, 2026. Epub Sep 14, 2026.

Abstract

The remarkable success of biomedical HIV prevention has transformed the global response to HIV through the widespread implementation of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), long-acting antiretroviral agents and HIV self-testing. However, ensuring equitable access to these interventions remains a major challenge. Although more than one billion people worldwide live with a disability, disability has received surprisingly little attention within contemporary HIV prevention research and implementation. This narrative review examines the intersection between disability and modern HIV prevention, integrating evidence on sexual and reproductive health, structural barriers to healthcare and the evolving landscape of biomedical prevention. The available literature suggests that people with disabilities experience persistent inequalities in access to sexuality education, HIV information, testing and preventive services, largely due to physical, communication and systemic barriers rather than biological vulnerability. Despite these well-documented disparities, disability is rarely incorporated into PrEP implementation studies, HIV prevention policies or differentiated service delivery models. We argue that disability should be considered an implementation and health equity challenge rather than a pharmacological one. The effectiveness of biomedical prevention ultimately depends on healthcare systems capable of delivering accessible, person-centred and inclusive services. Integrating disability into implementation science, clinical practice and public health policy represents an essential step toward achieving equitable HIV prevention. As HIV prevention continues to evolve, accessibility should be recognised not as an optional adaptation but as a fundamental component of high-quality prevention programmes.

PMID:
42797848
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 26 Sep 2026.

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