Work

Abstinence promotion under PEPFAR: The shifting focus of HIV prevention for youth

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Abstinence-until-marriage (AUM) - strongly supported by religious conservatives in the USA - became a key element of initial human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention efforts under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). AUM programmes have demonstrated limited efficacy in changing behaviours, promoted medically inaccurate information and withheld life-saving information about risk reduction. A focus on AUM also undermined national efforts in Africa to create integrated youth HIV prevention programmes. PEPFAR prevention efforts after 2008 shifted to science-based programming, however, vestiges of AUM remain. Primary prevention programmes within PEPFAR are essential and nations must be able to design HIV prevention based on local needs and prevention science.

Source: Global Public Health

DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2012.759609

Authors: John S. Santelli, Ilene S. Speizer, Zoe R. Edelstein

Institutions: Columbia University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, New York State Psychiatric Institute, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies

Language: English

Topic: Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green