Evolution of a Virus: The Framing of HIV/AIDS in Social Work Journals, Michael N. Humble et al., Social Work (2012)

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which social work journals accurately reflect the changing context and knowledge base of practice in the field of HIV. The authors reviewed four major social work journals from 1987 to 2006 to determine how content has changed after the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996. They analyzed how HIV was framed (terminal versus chronic), and the populations in focus. They found that although there was a decrease in the use of “terminal” in favor of “chronic” during the post-HAART period, the majority framed HIV/AIDS using both terms. The study also found some variation in the populations being studied, with increases in articles about women and older adults. Despite the consistent rise in diagnoses among heterosexuals and people of color, there were no significant increases in articles published about these populations.

The findings of this study raise questions about the relevance and usefulness of social work journals for social workers working with people affected by HIV. Although the social work code of ethics emphasizes a reliance on evidence-based practice, the journals available to social workers may not be meeting the diverse needs of professionals. It is important to note that this study reviewed only four popular social work journals; the findings may have been different had the authors reviewed other journals.