Science used in conjunction with an agency's experience with clients can strengthen, inspire, target, and best use limited resources in HIV prevention programs. This fact sheet will cover some of the basic elements of prevention science, what they mean, and their implications for service. Using science in prevention is now mandated in many areas.
Epidemiology is the study of the occurrence of infections or disease in a population.
It can tell you how many people are newly infected with HIV, what subpopulations have been infected, and who might be expected to be infected by HIV in the future. Behavioral epidemiology can tell you about the frequency of risk behaviors. It can also help planners be more thoughtful about how to best use limited resources. Health departments and the CDC can help by collecting local data for all populations. Research on human sexuality is key to understanding how people change risky sexual behaviors and can help in program design.