Effective prevention strategies in low HIV prevalence settings

How can countries with 'low prevalence' of HIV keep the occurrence low?

Where HIV/AIDS prevalence is low, the challenge is to keep it low. Where early prevention strategies are implemented, much new infection can be prevented.

The authors explore both the challenges facing programmes in low prevalence countries and potential strategies for keeping general infection rates low, while addressing high rates among sub-groups of the population.

The authors begin by addressing challenges facing programmes, identified broadly as:

lack of priority given to HIV/AIDS where prevalence is low
a belief that risk behaviour doesn't occur and talking about it is taboo
a belief that one is not at risk

Factors affecting whether low prevalence countries stay low or change to high prevalence are explored and the usefulness of the classification system is considered.

The paper goes on to discuss surveillance techniques and emphasise the importance of behavioral data. The document outlines effective prevention strategies and lessons to be learnt from past experience. The final chapters recommend some prevention strategies, taken from past experience, for populations generally and for at risk sub-populations specifically.

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Effective prevention strategies in low HIV prevalence settings