ARV-based HIV prevention for women - where we are in 2014

J Int AIDS Soc. 2014 Sep 8;17(3 Suppl 2):19154. doi: 10.7448/IAS.17.3.19154. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Women continue to be at special risk for HIV acquisition due to a complex mix of biological, behavioural, structural, cultural and social factors, with unacceptable rates of new infection. Scientific advances over the past decade have highlighted the use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV acquisition (sexually, parenterally and vertically) and ARV treatment (ART) for HIV-positive patients to prevent onward transmission (treatment as prevention - TasP). This paper reviews the evidence base for PrEP and TasP, describes new products in development and the need to translate research findings into programmes with impact at the population level.

Keywords: AIDS; HIV; HIV prevention; HIV treatment; PrEP; antiretroviral agents; women.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravaginal
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Biomedical Research / trends
  • Chemoprevention / methods*
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis / methods*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents