HIV/AIDS/STDs/TB/Hepatitis  (Blood and Air - Borne Pathogens)
 

HIV Prevention

Overview:  As a person examines the statistics shown in topics 1-3, and recent articles related to other STDs, there is a clear need for the implementation of methodologies to prevent HIV and other STDs.  This is especially true within some subgroups in the Gay community.  Currently, there is a perception by an increasing number of individuals in the Gay community that medications for HIV will reduce viral loads, and consequently, lead to an enhanced quality of life.  Although new medications can increase life quality, the byproduct has been that many individuals (especially young MSMs) in the Gay community are again engaging in high-risk behaviors that they did before.  Thus, prevalence rates of HIV and other STDs have significantly increased.  More information related to this topic can be found in the CDC and NIH websites.

In addition to MSMs, high-risk sexual behavior has significantly increased among all youth and young adults.  This is especially true with oral sex.  Although the risk of acquiring HIV through oral sex is generally lower than other activities, the risk of acquiring other STDs remains high.  

One solution to reducing HIV and STDs are good prevention programs.  Currently, a variety exist.  However, no prevention program is perfect for all individuals.  Thus, multiple interventions are often needed (and can occur simultaneously).  This section reviews some prevention programs targeted at reducing HIV and consequently, other diseases as well.  It also provides you with several websites that you can use for developing prevention programs.  

Goals:  To provide you with an overview of HIV prevention programs.              

Objectives:  To develop an understanding of strengths and weaknesses of approaches to HIV prevention.

Readings:  There are no readings for this topic.

Tasks:

1.  I have included several websites that are housed at the CDC.  Review the following websites  Then write a 2 page paper on what works and/or  what does not work in relation to HIV prevention.  Be specific.  

National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors http://www.nastad.org

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hivcompendium/hivcompendium.htm

This website provides a compendium of numerous articles related to HIV prevention.  The articles are broken down into several categories including youth, MSMs. heterosexuals, drug users, etc. 

Replicating Effective Programs Plus

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/projects/rep/default.htm

This site is dedicated to helping you identify and implement HIV/AIDS prevention programs that have been shown to work in the real world!

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/brightideas.pdf

This webcast provides a good overview of the issues revolving around HIV prevention among MSMs.
http://www2.cdc.gov/phtn/webcast/HIV_051707/media.asp

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/challenges.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/idu/