One of our strategic goals is to achieve effective HIV prevention in order to halt the spread of HIV.

Prevention priorities

HIV prevention is no longer treated as a priority in the UK and the Government's commitment to new prevention technologies is focused on developing countries, ignoring the benefits they could bring to people in the UK.

We want to see a significant rise in HIV prevention expenditure across the UK to meet the increased needs of all communities affected by HIV. We are also calling for greater involvement of a wider range of local and national stakeholders in the national HIV prevention programmes to ensure integrated and effective prevention work, and the integration of prevention into broader care and support for people living with HIV.

To illustrate the benefit of investment in effective prevention programmes we are working with others to support the development of an economic model to identify the lifetime cost of a new HIV infection.  We are also calling for clarity over national regulatory and licensing arrangements for new prevention options that, when developed, can also be used in the UK. 

HIV prevention and men who have sex with men (MSM) partnership patterns

NAT held an expert seminar on 24 June 2009 on MSM partnership patterns and the implications for HIV prevention work.  Below are some of the presentations made at the meeting.

Partnership Patterns and HIV: Transmission among MSM - Yusef Azad June 2009

Partner numbers, partnership patterns and sexual practices in MSM - implications for HIV incidence and appropriate prevention responses - Prof John Imrie, PhD
June 2009

Epidemiology of HIV Acquisition & Transmission in MSM - Prof Graham Hart June 2009

Beyond 'epidemiology': the psychosocial and cultural context of partnership patterns amongst MSM - Paul Flowers PhD June 2009

The expert seminar has been invaluable in informing NAT’s thinking as we prepare a policy paper on Partnership Patterns and HIV Prevention amongst MSM, which is due for publication in 2010.

Commissioning prevention services

A 2006 survey conducted by NAT and the Health Protection Agency showed a need for increased investment in HIV prevention in Primary Care Trusts to meet a growing need and better access to information and support for Commissioners.  We are working with the English HIV and Sexual Health Commissioners Group in order to address these needs.  The survey also examines prevention activities for gay men and black Africans, looking at expenditure, services provided and evaluations undertaken.

You can read the survey report Commissioning HIV Prevention Activities in England.

The future of prevention

In 2007 we held an expert seminar to discuss the future of HIV testing and prevention in England. The recommendations from this report highlight the importance of better funding for prevention, new approaches and more accessible services.

Read the seminar report Updating our Strategies. See the seminar presentations.

Coming soon: New report on HIV and black Caribbean communities in the UK

Black Caribbeans make up 1% of the UK population but account for 3% of people living with HIV. In the past decade there has been a five-fold increase in the number of black Caribbeans accessing HIV care in the UK. However, there is no dedicated national HIV prevention strategy for black Caribbean communities, and very few Caribbean-specific support services.

For this reason NAT is currently preparing a report looking at HIV prevalence within black Caribbean communities, major trends and risk factors. The report, to be published in 2010, highlights key policy issues and priorities for action to inform targeted and culturally-sensitive strategies for HIV prevention in black Caribbean communities.

Review of helpline advice

In 2007 we published a review of the advice being given by sexual health advice lines on HIV transmission through sex. As a result of this we have published a review and made recommendations for helplines to help them continue to maintain a valuable service to the public. See the review  Risks of Sexual Transmission of HIV: A review of advice in the UK.

To share your thoughts on HIV prevention please contact policyandcampaigns@nat.org.uk