Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121056

Katie West, Global Campaign for Microbicides, 1800 K Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington DC, DC 20006, 202-454-5048, kwest@path-dc.org

Trends in HIV infection rates in the US reveal under-estimated areas of high risk among women. AIDS, for example, is the leading cause of death among African American women ages 25-34 and the third leading cause among those between 35-44. Over half of all new HIV infections worldwide – 7000 per day – occur among women. The vast majority of these are young women infected heterosexually, frequently by a husband or long-term partner.

Power imbalances render millions of women, both here and globally, unable to insist upon protected sex. The federally endorsed “ABC” strategy for HIV prevention recommends abstinence, being faithful and condom use. While effective when used, these options do not address the needs of women whose male partners refuse to use condoms. Microbicides—products designed to be used vaginally or rectally to reduce risk of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)—could offer an urgently needed alternative to condoms and contribute to rebalancing the equation by giving women a prevention method that is under their direct control.

This presentation updates participants on the status of microbicide clinical trials in the US and abroad. While the first microbicides could reach the market by 2010, the research pipeline to develop them is being slowed by insufficient resources. Health care providers, public health professional and researchers can take an active role in advocacy to expedite microbicide research, thus making safe, effective, non-condom HIV prevention alternates that women can use without their partner's participation available as rapidly as possible.

Learning Objectives:

• This presentation updates participants on the status of microbicide clinical trials in the US and abroad.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, HIV/AIDS

Related Web page: www.global-campaign.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.