[HIV infection and social condition: a disease which remains singular]

Increased efficacy of HIV therapy has resulted in a dramatic improvement in patient's health condition regarding life expectancy and life quality. However, such favorable evolution had no significant impact on the social condition of the population living with HIV, which remains more exposed to socio-economical difficulties and to different forms of stigmatization and discrimination. Public policies do address these issues. The national HIV/AIDS and STI strategic plan 2010-2014 provides a range of actions aimed at fighting against discriminations and improving social care for the most vulnerable people living with HIV. It notably tries to achieve equal access to programs and services developed for patients with chronic diseases and to improve their condition regarding access to care, employment, housing and income. Implementation of these measures, however, proves difficult. Addressing social and societal concerns that HIV infection still raises is part of the care and support that should be offered to patients. Providing this comprehensive approach remains critical for ensuring optimized individual therapeutic outcomes as well as an efficient collective response to the epidemic.