Maximizing the impact of HIV prevention efforts: interventions for couples
Medley, A.; Baggaley, R.; Bachanas, P.; Cohen, M.; Shaffer, N.; Lo, Y-Ru.
Aids Care 25(12): 1569-1580
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0954-0121 PMID: 23656251 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2013.793269Document Number: 573545
Despite efforts to increase access to HIV testing and counseling services, population coverage remains low. As a result, many people in sub-Saharan Africa do not know their own HIV status or the status of their sex partner(s). Recent evidence, however, indicates that as many as half of HIV-positive individuals in ongoing sexual relationships have an HIV-negative partner and that a significant proportion of new HIV infections in generalized epidemics occur within serodiscordant couples. Integrating couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) into routine clinic- and community-based services can significantly increase the number of couples where the status of both partners is known. Offering couples a set of evidence-based interventions once their HIV status has been determined can significantly reduce HIV incidence within couples and if implemented with sufficient scale and coverage, potentially reduce population-level HIV incidence as well. This article describes these interventions and their potential benefits.