Achieving the potential of HIV prevention interventions: critical global need for collaborative dissemination efforts

Abstract

Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 25 million people have died from AIDS [1] and an estimated 33 million individuals are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide [1]. Every day, over 5700 individuals die from AIDS [1] and approximately 6800 people become newly infected with HIV [1]. In the absence of an effective HIV prevention vaccine, and in light of substantial vaccine-development setbacks [2], the current best means for combating the epidemic is widespread implementation of effective HIV prevention interventions [3], including those that are medically-focused (e.g., circumcision, antiretrovirals for prevention of vertical transmission) and those that are behaviorally-focused (e.g., interventions to increase condom use, HIV testing, and safer injection drug use practices). To date, medical, behavioral, and social scientists have dedicated a tremendous amount of time and resources to developing evidence-based HIV prevention interventions for a range of populations and prevention settings, using an array of intervention approaches and intervention delivery methods [4]. Despite such advances, widespread application of effective HIV prevention interventions has been minimal. A considerable number of HIV infections and AIDS deaths worldwide are a result of inadequate access to HIV prevention services, rather than lack of important breakthroughs in the prevention field [5]. Mathematical modeling techniques have identified cost-effective and even cost-saving evidence-based medical and behavioral interventions with the ability to avert millions of new HIV infections [5]. However, we will fail to prevent a significant number of deaths if we do not take immediate action towards disseminating these effective HIV prevention interventions widely.