 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Nicole Crepaz, PhD, Jeffrey H Herbst, PhD, Linda Kay, MPH, Cynthia M Lyles, PhD, and Ron Stall, PhD, MPH. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E37, Atlanta, GA 30333, 4046396149, ncc9@cdc.gov
Many HIV prevention intervention studies have been conducted and published in scientific peer-review journals over the past 20 years. However, the scientific knowledge of what works does not automatically translate into effective practice in the field. To bridge this gap, the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis (PRS) project at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts systematic reviews to critically evaluate all U.S.-based HIV/AIDS behavioral studies and disseminates the valuable scientific knowledge of effective HIV interventions to the communities affected by the epidemic. The results of systematic reviews on various at-risk groups (e.g., men who have sex with men [MSM], drug users, heterosexual adults, sexually-active adolescents) indicate that behavioral interventions to reduce sexual risk behaviors, in general, are effective. However, there remains a major research gap between the emerging HIV epidemic and evidence-based HIV interventions for ethnic minority groups especially among MSM of color, a population hit hard by the HIV epidemic. These findings suggest that interventions reducing sexual risk behaviors should be implemented on a much wider scale than at present. Researchers should consider tailoring interventions already shown to be effective to meet the specific needs of understudied risk groups. Evidence-based research can be a powerful tool to guide Community Planning Groups, health departments and community-based organizations selecting effective interventions. Adoption of evidence-based interventions should been encouraged and funded to place the scientific knowledge of effective HIV prevention into practice.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: HIV Interventions, Methodology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.