HIV/AIDS and return to work: a literature review one-decade post-introduction of combination therapy (HAART)

It has been a little over one decade since the introduction of the first protease inhibitor that ushered in new era of treatment for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). As of the end of 2003, an estimated 37.8 million people worldwide were infected with the HIV. It is estimated that there are 850,000-950,000 persons in the United States living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and that the incident rate is new cases each year. Since AIDS affects so many people of working age in the US, issues of employment, work rehabilitation and AIDS in the workplace have all become major concerns. The paper presents a review of the literature published during a ten year period that is relevant to understanding the various needs and barriers related to work as well as services designed to address them.