The Economist final week had in hopeful article on methods to interrupt the cycle of HIV transmission, significantly amongst younger lady who’ve intercourse with older males. Much of the dialogue is on PrEP
A extra promising thought is to forestall ladies and younger ladies from changing into contaminated, ideally utilizing strategies which don’t require them to influence a person to put on a condom (which is troublesome). Among these are three PrEP strategies which have grow to be accessible in recent times: a vaginal ring, a every day capsule and an injection each second month. Convincing ladies prone to hiv
to make use of them can, nevertheless, be a problem.
The vaginal ring, an insertable silicone system that releases an ARV drug and have to be changed each month, can scale back the chance of HIV an infection by as a lot as 50%. But “it’s not going to be everybody’s cup of tea,” admits Dr Bekker.
The every day PREP capsule, which comprises a mixture of ARV medication, has been accessible in Africa for a number of years. But it has been difficult to pinpoint how efficient it’s as a result of even in medical trials too few ladies used it constantly. Some research estimate that, if used correctly, these capsules can scale back the chance of HIV an infection by as a lot as 90%. But it’s onerous to take the remedy discreetly at work or faculty and difficult to cover from a father or mother or a boyfriend.
Women fear about stigma…
The most promising possibility is an injectable type of PrEP. This comprises a long-acting type of cabotegravir, which stops an vital stage within the replication of HIV in host cells. It is delivered as an injection, initially as soon as a month after which each two months, and was included within the World Health Organisation tips on HIV prevention final 12 months. In medical trials with ladies in Africa, it was practically 90% simpler than oral PrEP.
The examine additionally discusses the potential for different injectable PrEP remedies that are administered much less incessantly (each 6 months) to enhance adherence. The full article is right here.