Historically, HIV prevention in the United States has generally focused on persons who are not HIV-infected. However, further reduction of HIV transmission will require new strategies, including an increased emphasis on preventing transmission by HIV-infected persons aware of their status. This may be a highly cost-effective strategy in that prevention is targeted directly to potential sources of new infections. After testing positive for HIV, many people reduce behaviors that may transmit HIV to others. However, recent studies suggest that such behavioral changes are not maintained by all HIV-infected persons and that some continue to engage in behaviors that place others at risk for HIV infection. A cost-effective behavioral intervention is needed that can be delivered to large numbers of HIV-positive men and women in the years following their HIV diagnosis.

This demonstration project will try to determine the effects of repeated but brief counseling on patient behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in HIV outpatient clinics in the United States. This project will support the efforts of the HIV clinics in this demonstration project by providing training of HIV clinic care providers in effective HIV transmission prevention counseling. In addition, data collection will be systematized across the sites to permit pooled data analyses and evaluations.

This project will assess the effect of implementing the 2003 Incorporating HIV Prevention into Medical Care Settings Guidelines (also available in PDF) on six health care sites and the impact on patient-reported risk behaviors, STD rates, tailored risk-reduction counseling and referrals. Though the guidelines are now considered standard of care, little is known about their efficacy in changing patient behavior.

The objectives of this project are as follows:

• To increase the number of positive persons who have information about transmission risks and regularly receive counseling about ways to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.
• To increase the number of sexually active HIV-infected persons who are screened and tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
• To enhance the capacity and ability to conduct effective prevention counseling and referral for services (e.g., social, mental health, drug treatment, partner notification).
• To assist in strengthening the linkages among health departments, CBOs, and providers of HIV care to facilitate the referral of HIV-infected persons to services.

This site was last updated July 1,, 2004.
Created March 2, 2004 by web designer.