The demands of existing and upcoming health challenges to
address the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic globally require
innovative policy responses, and not merely just more evidence.
We are living in an era of rapid change and clear and concise
policies are essential to interdisciplinary approaches to population
health and to address major pandemics, such as HIV
(Cheung et al. 2011). Numerous recommendations from international
and regional bodies (PAHO 2004) urge the inclusion
of nurses as participants in policy development at all levels of
the health system. Nurses are ideally situated to understand and
recognize the policy determinants of health as they deliver the
majority of frontline care and are well connected with patients
and the environment (Reutter & Duncan 2002).
A variety of economic, social and political issues necessitate
the nursing professions’ involvement in policy development.
Nurses play a leading role in healthcare delivery and are responsible
for a major portion of care provided to those living
with HIV and AIDS including educating the population (Davey
2004; Simbayi et al. 2005). It is essential that nurses participate
in policy development that affects their day-to-day work with
AIDS patients. Although nurses are generally well prepared educationally
and play leadership roles within clinical, educational,
research and administrative domains, their contribution to the
health policy process has been constrained by a lack of research
training and mentoring, limited access to research funding,
limited experience with effective knowledge transfer strategies,
and few opportunities for dialogue with policymakers (Edwards
et al. 2009).
A multidisciplinary team of 20 researchers and research
users from six countries – Canada, Jamaica, Barbados1
, Kenya,
Uganda and South Africa – are collaborating on a 5-year (2007–
12) program of research and capacity building project (Edwards
& Roelofs 2007). Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean are the
two regions of the world with the highest HIV prevalence rates.
Nurses are at the forefront of HIV prevention and AIDS care in
these countries but have limited involvement in related policy
decisions and development.