The mere association of the words sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS, and sexuality, to Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in any discussion, social or academic, seems to elicit heated debates and controversy. The MENA region is, in the minds of many, an area where socio-cultural sensitivities surrounding sex and disease still abound. Are there HIV epidemics shrouded behind a wall of denial? Is there a ‘conspiracy of silence’ resulting in a failure to confront a public health scourge?

Lack of data seems to have fuelled this debate, but the reality of the situation is more nuanced. There are probably shreds of truth in the polemics about HIV infection and other STIs in this region, but partial truths often distort reality. This special supplement of Sexually Transmitted Infections provides a critical piece of the solution to this problem: evidence from the field. This evidence suggests a reality that this region should be able to confront and deal with.

The purpose of this special supplement is to showcase the progress of STI research in MENA, and to demonstrate stronger evidence about the HIV epidemic to inform policy and programming. We chose studies that broadened our knowledge in this field, and testified to the feasibility of conducting quality research in this region. To highlight progress, we invited contributors to submit studies dealing with diverse research questions and methodologies. We encouraged novelty and weighed the studies’ potential to impact policy and programming. Our goal was to have a broad representation from the MENA region, but we only achieved partial success. Though eventually the supplement included data from multiple countries in one form or another, the countries with more advanced research capacity contributed more. A few of the invited articles from other countries did not materialise for a variety of reasons. One of …