The journal covers a broad spectrum of issues in HIV infection: education, treatment, prevention, research, clinical practice issues, advocacy, policy, and program development.

The journal publishes editorials, featured articles, case studies, briefs, commentaries, media reviews, and letters to the editors.

The inaugural issue was published in August 1989 by Medical World Business Press (Old Bridge, New Jersey).

She later recounted that she "had to face the awful fact that we had empty pockets, no publisher, no advertisers, and no manuscripts, let alone a system for peer review of those proposed articles.

"[2] During Sowell's tenure as editor, the journal expanded to six issues per year, increased the number of pages published per issue, and developed strong funding lines.