Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
We are sorry, but NCBI web applications do not support your browser and may not function properly. More information
    Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2007 Dec;4(4):165-72.

    Risk compensation in HIV prevention: implications for vaccines, microbicides, and other biomedical HIV prevention technologies.

    Source

    University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, 406 Babbidge Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. lisa.eaton@uconn.edu

    Abstract

    Studies investigating the effects of biologic HIV prevention technologies have been reported with promising results for slowing the spread of the disease. Although they can reduce the rate of HIV transmission at varying levels of efficaciousness, it is vital to anticipate their impact on subsequent sexual behaviors. Risk homeostasis theory posits that decreases in perceived risk, which will occur with access to HIV prevention technologies, will correspond with increases in risk-taking behavior. Here we review the literature on risk compensation in response to HIV vaccines, topical microbicides, antiretroviral medications, and male circumcision. Behavioral risk compensation is evident in response to prevention technologies that are used in advance of HIV exposure and at minimal personal cost. We conclude that behavioral risk compensation should be addressed by implementing adjunct behavioral risk-reduction interventions to avoid negating the preventive benefits of biomedical HIV prevention technologies.

    PMID:
    18366947
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID:
    PMC2937204
    Free PMC Article

    Images from this publication.See all images (1)Free text

    Figure 1

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for PubMed Central

      Save items

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk