Abstract
Recently, there has been debate about the role of concurrent partnerships in driving the transmission of HIV, particularly
in Southern Africa, where HIV prevalence is up to 25 % in many heterosexual populations and where evidence from sexual behavior
surveys also suggests high levels of male concurrency. While mathematical modeling studies have shown that concurrency has
the potential to enhance the speed at which HIV spreads in a population, empirical studies up to now have failed to provide
conclusive evidence supportive of these effects. Here we discuss some reasons for the apparent discrepancy between theoretical
and empirical studies. We propose that studying the impact of concurrency on HIV transmission should be differentiated by
taking more insight from social and behavioral studies on sexual partnerships into account. We also suggest that a more rigorous
definition is needed for when a factor is considered a driving force for HIV epidemic spread. We illustrate this with a modeling
example.
in Southern Africa, where HIV prevalence is up to 25 % in many heterosexual populations and where evidence from sexual behavior
surveys also suggests high levels of male concurrency. While mathematical modeling studies have shown that concurrency has
the potential to enhance the speed at which HIV spreads in a population, empirical studies up to now have failed to provide
conclusive evidence supportive of these effects. Here we discuss some reasons for the apparent discrepancy between theoretical
and empirical studies. We propose that studying the impact of concurrency on HIV transmission should be differentiated by
taking more insight from social and behavioral studies on sexual partnerships into account. We also suggest that a more rigorous
definition is needed for when a factor is considered a driving force for HIV epidemic spread. We illustrate this with a modeling
example.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Commentary
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0254-6
- Authors
- Mirjam Kretzschmar, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Michel Caraƫl, Department of Social Sciences, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165