HIV prevention in the era of new treatments

Advances in the treatment of HIV disease in recent years have prompted concern that individuals may regard HIV/AIDS as a less serious threat and consequently will be less committed to safer sex practices. This article reviews studies that have been conducted so far to assess the impact of new treatments for HIV on risk perceptions and behaviors among various population groups. Health practitioners need to be alerted to changing attitudes and preventive behaviors in their community stemming from the new treatments. Suggestions are offered to providers of HIV prevention services on how to address the issue of new treatments and the possibility of increasing complacency about safer sex practices.