PERSPECTIVES PAPER: HIV Prevention and Research Considerations for Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: Moving toward Biobehavioral Prevention Strategies

Abstract

This paper addresses current and emerging HIV prevention strategies for women in Sub-Saharan Africa, in light of recent trial results and ongoing research. What are the major opportunities and challenges for widespread implementation of new and emerging HIV prevention strategies? The paper discusses the major individual, social and structural factors that underpin women’s disproportionate risk for HIV infection, with attention to gender, adolescents as a vulnerable population, and the need to engage men. Also, the influence of these factors on the ultimate success of both behavioral and biomedical HIV prevention technologies for  women in sub-Saharan Africa is discussed. Finally, the paper examined how the new and emerging  biobehavioral prevention strategies served as tools to empower women to adopt healthy HIV preventive and reproductive health behaviors. (Afr J Reprod Health 2014; 18[3]: 17-24)

Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, biobehavioral prevention, HIV, gender, adolescents