Sex without fear: The psychological and social impact of biomedical HIV prevention   Fergus Cairns
Channel: Dominic Davies
Date: 2018-12-11

Since 2010, scientific studies have established that antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can be used to prevent HIV infection as well as treat it. Some studies have shown that people with HIV on fully-effective ART are essentially non-infectious. Others have shown that giving HIV-negative people smaller doses of ARVs, as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), offers them substantial protection from HIV. These developments have been welcomed by some who see in them a potential to reduce the stigma of HIV; others, however, are concerned about their effect on eroding safer-sex norms. The trial results will be outlined and some of the community reactions explored.