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Pre-exposure prophylaxis in Southern Africa: feasible or not?
Willem Daniel François Venter1, Frances Cowan2, Vivian Black1
1Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI), University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Introduction:
Southern and Eastern Africa bear the brunt of the AIDS epidemic, and current prevention interventions remain inadequate. Antiretroviral-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is gaining momentum as an effective prevention intervention.
Discussion:
Discussions have been started on how this strategy could be employed in Africa such that the populations most in need can be reached urgently for the greatest impact. This requires the selection of specific risk groups and service environments in which PrEP can be distributed safely and cost effectively while being mindful of any ethical issues.
Conclusions:
Given the need for an integrated public health approach to this, a number of potential populations and opportunities for PrEP distribution exist and are discussed in this commentary.
