The goal this network is to bring together active researchers who study the consequences for and contributions of older persons in Africa and Asia in relation to the AIDS epidemic in order to promote collaboration and comparative analyses. The main anticipated mechanisms to accomplish the network’s goals will be small-scale meetings and/or workshops. The network is one of several external networks under the Michigan Center for the Demography of Aging (MiCDA).
The network is aimed at researchers who would benefit from sharing their experiences and who have or will have data sets referring to African or Asian settings that can serve as the basis for interesting comparative analyses. The main focus will be research on older persons who are affected by others, especially family members, who are currently living with or who have died of HIV/AIDS. One issue of particular interest is how the growing availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is affecting the consequences for and the role of older family members of ART patients. Although not the major focus, studies related to older persons who are infected themselves or who are at risk of infection is also relevant to the network.