Advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States

Despite recent advances in testing and treatment, the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the United States has remained stagnant with an estimated 56,300 new infections every year. Women account for an increasing proportion of the epidemic. The vulnerability of women to HIV stems from both increased biologic...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nadine E. Chen, Jaimie P. Meyer, Sandra A. Springer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2011-06-01
Series:Infectious Disease Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/idr/article/view/2362
_version_ 1818729056141574144
author Nadine E. Chen
Jaimie P. Meyer
Sandra A. Springer
author_facet Nadine E. Chen
Jaimie P. Meyer
Sandra A. Springer
author_sort Nadine E. Chen
collection DOAJ
description Despite recent advances in testing and treatment, the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the United States has remained stagnant with an estimated 56,300 new infections every year. Women account for an increasing proportion of the epidemic. The vulnerability of women to HIV stems from both increased biologic susceptibility to heterosexual transmission and also the social, economic, and structural disadvantages they often confront. This review describes the main reasons for the increased vulnerability of U.S. women to HIV transmission with particular emphasis on specific high-risk groups including: non-Hispanic blacks, women who use drugs, women with a history of incarceration, and victims of intimate partner violence. Although behavioral approaches to HIV prevention may be effective, pragmatic implementation is often difficult, especially for women who lack sociocultural capital to negotiate condoms with their male partners. Recent advances in HIV prevention show promise in terms of female-initiated interventions. These notably include female condoms, non-specific vaginal microbicides, and antiretroviral oral and vaginal pre-exposure prophylaxis. In this review, we will present evidence in support of these new female-initiated interventions while also emphasizing the importance of advocacy and the political support for these scientific advances to be successful.
first_indexed 2024-12-17T22:39:49Z
format Article
id doaj.art-854a979c7bf942f19147c56161a71de4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2036-7430
2036-7449
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-17T22:39:49Z
publishDate 2011-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Infectious Disease Reports
spelling doaj.art-854a979c7bf942f19147c56161a71de42022-12-21T21:30:00ZengMDPI AGInfectious Disease Reports2036-74302036-74492011-06-0131e6e610.4081/idr.2011.23621539Advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in the United StatesNadine E. Chen0Jaimie P. Meyer1Sandra A. Springer2Yale University, Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious DiseasesYale University, Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious DiseasesYale University, Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious DiseasesDespite recent advances in testing and treatment, the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the United States has remained stagnant with an estimated 56,300 new infections every year. Women account for an increasing proportion of the epidemic. The vulnerability of women to HIV stems from both increased biologic susceptibility to heterosexual transmission and also the social, economic, and structural disadvantages they often confront. This review describes the main reasons for the increased vulnerability of U.S. women to HIV transmission with particular emphasis on specific high-risk groups including: non-Hispanic blacks, women who use drugs, women with a history of incarceration, and victims of intimate partner violence. Although behavioral approaches to HIV prevention may be effective, pragmatic implementation is often difficult, especially for women who lack sociocultural capital to negotiate condoms with their male partners. Recent advances in HIV prevention show promise in terms of female-initiated interventions. These notably include female condoms, non-specific vaginal microbicides, and antiretroviral oral and vaginal pre-exposure prophylaxis. In this review, we will present evidence in support of these new female-initiated interventions while also emphasizing the importance of advocacy and the political support for these scientific advances to be successful.http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/idr/article/view/2362HIV, AIDS, HIV prevention, HIV transmission, women
spellingShingle Nadine E. Chen
Jaimie P. Meyer
Sandra A. Springer
Advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States
Infectious Disease Reports
HIV, AIDS, HIV prevention, HIV transmission, women
title Advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States
title_full Advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States
title_fullStr Advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States
title_full_unstemmed Advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States
title_short Advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States
title_sort advances in the prevention of heterosexual transmission of hiv aids among women in the united states
topic HIV, AIDS, HIV prevention, HIV transmission, women
url http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/idr/article/view/2362
work_keys_str_mv AT nadineechen advancesinthepreventionofheterosexualtransmissionofhivaidsamongwomenintheunitedstates
AT jaimiepmeyer advancesinthepreventionofheterosexualtransmissionofhivaidsamongwomenintheunitedstates
AT sandraaspringer advancesinthepreventionofheterosexualtransmissionofhivaidsamongwomenintheunitedstates