Nearly 150 AIDS experts call for consensus on global HIV prevention efforts

Nearly 150 AIDS experts from 36 countries signed a commentary published in the November 27 edition of The Lancet that calls for consensus on a "sound public health approach" to preventing sexually acquired HIV infections. The commentary says that while sexual behavior is influenced by many factors, public health officials have "an obligation to offer people the most accurate information on how to avoid HIV and to encourage changes in societal norms to reduce the spread of the virus." The piece recommends three key steps for successful HIV prevention programs: that they be epidemiologically grounded and locally endorsed; that they employ the "ABC" prevention approach--abstinence, be faithful, use condoms--with emphasis on each of the elements to be determined based on the target population; and that HIV prevention outreach involve many groups, including community-based organizations, religious groups, women's and men's organizations, youth organizations, care groups, health care workers, local media, and traditional and governmental leadership. It is "time to leave behind divisive polarization and to move forward together in designing and implementing evidence-based prevention programs to help reduce the millions of new infections occurring each year," the piece concludes.