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Social and behavioural research prospects for sexually transmissible infection prevention in the era of advances in biomedical approaches

Matthew Hogben A B , Patricia J. Dittus A , Jami S. Leichliter A and Sevgi O. Aral A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop US12-2, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.

B Corresponding author. Email: mhogben@cdc.gov

Sexual Health 17(2) 103-113 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH19105
Submitted: 25 June 2019  Accepted: 31 October 2019   Published: 3 March 2020

Abstract

In the past two decades, major advances in biomedical intervention approaches to prevent HIV and many sexually transmissible infections (STIs) have shown great promise. However, challenges to prevention remain in the area of achieving population-level impact for biomedical prevention approaches. In this paper we address what social and behavioural research approaches can contribute beyond well-known behaviour change and counselling interventions. We organise work into five areas. Adherence and disinhibition research is primarily into individual-level constructs pertaining to maximising intervention effectiveness. Coverage research represents a population-level construct germane to maximising efficient prioritisation for prevention. Research covering social determinants, a second population-level construct, contributes to both prioritisation and effectiveness. Finally, disparities and social inequities need to be incorporated into prevention, given the pervasive and persistent disparities found in rates of HIV and STIs and in their antecedents.

Additional keywords: adherence, disinhibition, disparities, intervention coverage, social determinants.


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