Beyond Condoms

The HIV epidemic, now entering its third decade, has become the greatest threat to human health in history. Since the advent of this virus, male latex condoms have been the mainstay of prevention efforts. However, few find the prospect of a lifetime of condom use to be practical, appealing, or, in some instances, possible. A growing view in HIV prevention is that the one-size-fits-all approach may not be the most effective public health strategy. Rather, different approaches or combinations of approaches may be optimal for particular individuals in diverse life circumstances. Also, the simplistic prevention approaches of the past need to be strengthened based on the advances that have been made in behavioural, social, and biomedical science. This book describes a set of prevention strategies that do not solely rely on male condoms, including: the use of HIV antibody testing and "negotiated safety"; abstinence; control of sexually transmitted diseases; treatment advances as prevention; woman-controlled technologies; structural interventions; and psychopharmacology to assist with behaviour change.