The past, present, and future of HIV prevention: integrating behavioral, biomedical, and structural intervention strategies for the next generation of HIV prevention

Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2009:5:143-67. doi: 10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.032408.153530.

Abstract

In the past 25 years, the field of HIV prevention research has been transformed repeatedly. Today, effective HIV prevention requires a combination of behavioral, biomedical, and structural intervention strategies. Risk of transmitting or acquiring HIV is reduced by consistent male- and female-condom use, reductions in concurrent and/or sequential sexual and needle-sharing partners, male circumcision, and treatment with antiretroviral medications. At least 144 behavioral prevention programs have been found effective in reducing HIV transmission acts; however, scale up of these programs has not occurred outside of the United States. A series of recent failures of HIV-prevention efficacy trials for biomedical innovations such as HIV vaccines, treating herpes simplex 2 and other sexually transmitted infections, and diaphragm and microbicide barriers highlights the need for behavioral strategies to accompany biomedical strategies. This challenges prevention researchers to reconceptualize how cost-effective, useful, realistic, and sustainable prevention programs will be designed, delivered, tested, and diffused. The next generation of HIV prevention science must draw from the successes of existing evidence-based interventions and the expertise of the market sector to integrate preventive innovations and behaviors into everyday routines.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • AIDS Vaccines / economics
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomedical Enhancement*
  • Circumcision, Male / statistics & numerical data
  • Condoms / statistics & numerical data
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Evidence-Based Medicine / methods
  • Forecasting
  • HIV Infections / economics
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Integrative Medicine / methods*
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Preventive Health Services / trends*
  • Risk-Taking

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents