Treating curable sexually transmitted infections to prevent HIV in Africa: still an effective control strategy?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evidence regarding the effectiveness of sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment for HIV prevention in Africa is equivocal, leading some policy makers to question whether it should continue to be promoted for HIV control. We explore whether treating curable STIs remains a cost-effective HIV control strategy in Africa.

Methods

The model STDSIM was fitted to the characteristics of 4 populations in East and West Africa. Over the simulated HIV epidemics, the population-attributable fractions (PAFs) of incident HIV attributable to STIs, the impact of syndromic STI management on HIV incidence, and the cost per HIV infection averted were evaluated and compared with an estimate of lifetime HIV treatment costs (US $3500).

Results

Throughout the HIV epidemics i

SUBMITTER: White RG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3776949 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature