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Sexually Transmitted Diseases > Media
Releases > Media Releases Archive > STD Treatment to Prevent HIV Infection: Implications of Recent Community-Level Studies
July 1998
STD Treatment to Prevent HIV Infection: Implications of Recent Community-Level Studies Evidence from two major community-level, randomized trials has begun to clarify conditions under which STD treatment is likely to be most successful in reducing HIV transmission. The trials were conducted to examine the potential impact of STD treatment on HIV prevention. While both were community-level, randomized, controlled trials, there were differences in the design and the conditions under which the trials were carried out. The first trial, conducted in Mwanza, a rural area of Tanzania, demonstrated a decrease of about 40% in new, heterosexually transmitted HIV infections in communities with continuous access to improved treatment of symptomatic STDs, as compared to communities with minimal STD services, where incidence remained about the same (Grosskurth et al., 1995). However, in the second trial, conducted in Rakai, Uganda, a reduction in HIV transmission was not demonstrated when the STD control approach was community-wide mass treatment administered to everyone every 10 months in the absence of ongoing access to improved STD services (Wawer, 1998). What were some of the important differences in the two interventions?
What were some of the key differences in the two communities when they were studied?
What do these differences mean for HIV prevention? While additional research is needed, results of these two studies provide some direction for how STD prevention efforts can be best targeted as a tool to prevent HIV transmission. Toward this end, communities should consider the following:
References: Grosskurth H et al. 1995. "Impact of improved treatment of sexually transmitted diseases on HIV infection in rural Tanzania: randomized controlled trial." In: The Lancet, 346:530-36. Kassler W et al. STD control for HIV prevention in the US: Is there likely to be an impact? [Abstract No. 33238]. In: Conference Supplement of the 12th World AIDS Conference. Geneva, Switzerland, June 28-July 3, 1998. Wawer, MJ. The Rakai randomized, community-based trial of STD control for AIDS prevention: no effect on HIV incidence despite reductions in STDs [Abstract no. 12473]. In: Conference Supplement of the 12th World AIDS Conference. Geneva, Switzerland, June 28-July 3, 1998. For more information: Please contact the NCHSTP Office of Communications at 404/639-8063. |
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Content provided by the Division of STD Prevention |
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