A program for young women at an inner-city family health center serving a minority population found that counseling by physicians achieved more changes in knowledge of sexual risks, whereas peer education achieved greater changes in knowledge about injection drug use. Since adolescents are at a particularly high risk for HIV infection, more programs aimed at school-age youth are needed. Interventions that promote HIV counseling and testing for both members of a couple should be considered. A program in Rwanda, Africa provided education and confidential testing and counseling to all participants in a research clinic, as well as their sexual partners. Rates of new HIV infections decreased significantly in women whose partners were tested and counseled.
More effective programs aimed at men go a long way toward protecting women.
Social marketing of condoms to men has been extremely successful in several countries around the world. More research needs to be done on women's risks and prevention needs. This includes basic research in modes of transmission and risks, as well as evaluations for innovative, women-specific interventions. Funding for women's prevention programs needs to be increased. In addition, different interventions need to be implemented that address broader community concerns for women, especially adolescent and African-American and Latina women.