'Abstinence-plus' can help stop spread of HIV

Abstinence-plus programmes have positive effects on the reduction in the spread of HIV in high-income countries, according to a new report.

The Cochrane Review looked at 39 studies involving over 37,000 North American young people, which included abstinence-only programmes as well as abstinence-plus schemes.

The latter not only encourage people to abstain from sexual activity, but also teach condom skills, safer sex negotiation, communication with partners, and about the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Lead researcher Dr Don Operario said: "In a previous Cochrane Review we concluded that abstinence-only programs have no effect in high-income countries, which makes the finding that abstinence-plus programs can influence behaviour even more striking.

"This is an opportunity for the HIV prevention and public health communities to harness the potential benefits of comprehensive sexual health education such as abstinence-plus programmes."

An estimated 70 per cent of HIV-infected people stay sexually active.

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