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Top1. Introduction
The Human Immune-Deficiency (HIV) virus causes the potentially lethal Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The HIV/AIDS epidemic that started in 1981 is still a global concern. Despite a significant investment in resources, the epidemic affects almost all of the countries in the world. Today, the world is far from reaching an “AIDS-free generation.” The global community describes an AIDS-free generation as a state in which three characteristics occur: First, virtually no children are born infected with the HIV virus. Second, teens and adults are at lower risk of becoming infected due to the widespread use of HIV prevention tools. Third, if they acquire the virus, they have access to treatment that helps prevent them from developing AIDS. Cote d’Ivoire, one of the most affected countries in Africa, has benefited significantly from the global interventions, but it has yet to attain an AIDS-free generation.
The quest for a generation free of HIV/AIDS focuses this research on providing decision makers with strategies that prioritize the allocation of resources among different HIV response programs. The objective also includes a focus on data-based research that guides future budget allocations toward an AIDS-free generation in Côte d’Ivoire. To achieve these objectives, this research investigates the evolution dynamics of HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire and identifies policies that can lead to an AIDS-free generation.
We build a detailed system dynamics simulation model capturing the main dynamics of the evolution of HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire. We calibrate the proposed model to Cote d’Ivoire data from 1990 to 2012.This was followed by a collection and collation historic data from multiple public reports. In addition, a review of the data available from relevant literature provides the basis for the main inputs and assumptions in the model. The model captures not only the evolution of the epidemic in Cote d’Ivoire for the last 23 years, but it also projects HIV/AIDS dynamics 27 years into the future. With the calibrated system dynamics model, we simulate different HIV/AIDs policies and evaluate their impact in the future of the epidemic. Policy analysis and reflection on the applicability of proposed policies informs our recommendations.
We structure the remainder of the paper into four sections. Section 2 describes the current situation of HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire. Section 3 reviews the relevant literature. Section 4 delineates the steps followed in the design of the model. Section 5 emphasizes on model results and a summary of policy analysis. The paper contributes to our understanding of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Cote d’Ivoire, its future dynamics and the impact of policy changes of different HIV/AIDS response program.