Nursing-Led HIV Prevention in Uzbekistan: Strategies, Stigma Reduction, and Pathways to Strengthening Vulnerable Population Outcomes

Abstract Background: HIV infection remains a global public health challenge, with over 50,000 officially registered cases in Uzbekistan as of 2023. Nursing personnel occupy a unique frontline position within the healthcare system with substantial but underutilized potential for HIV prevention. Methods: A narrative review and comparative analysis of international guidelines, peer-reviewed literature, and national regulatory documents were conducted. Sources included World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS publications, journals including The Lancet , Journal of Clinical Nursing , and BMC Public Health , as well as Uzbekistan Ministry of Health policy documents. A comparative survey of nursing attitudes toward HIV-positive patients was also conducted among two groups (main group: n = 614; control group: n = 74). Results: Nurses serve as primary points of contact in HIV prevention, counseling, voluntary testing, psychosocial support, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Comparative analysis demonstrated that higher HIV awareness correlated with reduced stigma: fear and hostility toward HIV-positive patients was reported by 25% of main group nurses versus 11% in the control group. Uzbekistan's nursing workforce is actively involved in educational campaigns and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), but lacks access to harm reduction programs and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Conclusion: Expanding nursing competencies, integrating international best practices, and addressing systemic barriers including stigma and resource limitations are essential to improving HIV prevention outcomes among vulnerable populations in Uzbekistan.