Publications
HST provides free electronic access to over 500 health systems research related reports, publications and papers. Close to 300 of these are publications that have been commissioned and funded by the Trust. Topics include among others district systems development, drug supply management, human resource development, informatics, legislation, finance, environmental health, mental health, lessons learnt, nutrition and sexually transmitted diseases / HIV/AIDS. The main publication of the HST is the annual South African Health Review. From 2005 all HST publications will be available in low resolution only. To explore the range of publications HST offers use the Advanced search to search using a variety of criteria.

The persistent nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its increasing incidence in less powerful, more economically marginalised communities signal a need for a critical review of past policy and practice, particularly where this has left unchanged or worsened the risk environments that lead to new infection or left individuals and households with unsustainable burdens due to AIDS.

A background analysis of current patterns of susceptibility to HIV and vulnerability to AIDS raises concern for how far responses have confronted the underlying risk environments that increase susceptibility to HIV and influenced the equitable allocation of social and economic resources to deal with the burdens of AIDS (Loewenson 2004). This raises questions of how far prevention interventions adopt social approaches that link individuals at risk within widening social networks and address micro- or macro-environmental determinants of HIV. It also raises questions of whether responses to the impacts of AIDS organise and build mechanisms to share the costs of AIDS and build solidarity and equity in resource and service support for vulnerable households and families. While there is a significant and growing body of literature on community participation and responses to AIDS, these equity oriented questions are still poorly supported by systematic empirical evidence.

The UNRISD programme on Community Responses to HIV and AIDS, externally co-ordinated through R Loewenson, TARSC, aims to fill this gap in evidence and analysis. Through a strategic research programme it aims to inform policy and programme development, particularly within state and civil society, on equitable and effective support to community level in the prevention of risk of HIV and in mitigating the impacts of AIDS.