HIV / AIDS prevention in the context of new therapies. Report of a meeting organized by UNAIDS and the AIDS Research Institute of the University of California at San Francisco Geneva 23-24 February 1998.

On February 23-24 1998 the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS and the AIDS Research Institute of the University of California at San Francisco convened in Geneva to prepare an outline statement on HIV prevention in the context of therapeutic advance. This document summarizes the conclusions and recommendations of the meeting. In light of the presentations and discussion a series of principles for the integration of prevention and care were identified. The principles covered issues on health promotion throughout the continuum of HIV/AIDS antiretroviral drugs and prevention the role of voluntary counseling and testing research issues the importance of reducing stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS funding issues and better information and communication. It is noted that the advent of new and more effective treatments for HIV creates important new challenges for HIV prevention. While some are linked to changing perceptions about the gravity of the epidemic others are linked to opportunities for preventing infection through post-exposure prophylaxis and related interventions. Hence research priorities should include identifying the range of prevention opportunities that arise across the continuum of care. Studies need to be undertaken on changes in risk behavior intermediate steps leading to change motivations and their determinants as well as the kinds of communication approaches which are more effective in achieving and maintaining risk reduction in the context of new therapies.