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Systematic Review of Couple-Based HIV Intervention and Prevention Studies: Advantages, Gaps, and Future Directions

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Abstract

We conducted a systematic review of couple-based HIV biobehavioral (skills-building, VCT, and adherence) and biomedical (ART, circumcision) prevention and intervention studies designed to reduce sexual- and drug-risk behaviors and HIV transmission and acquisition. Of the 11,162 papers identified in the search, 93 peer-reviewed papers met the inclusion criteria and yielded a total of 33 studies conducted globally. Biobehavioral couple-based prevention and intervention studies have been efficacious in reducing sexual- and drug-risk behaviors, increasing access to HIV testing and care, and improving adherence. Biomedical couple-based studies were found to reduce HIV incidence among HIV-negative sex partners and viral load among HIV-positive partners. Despite much progress, couple-based HIV prevention and intervention studies remain limited; a number of methodological gaps exist and studies focusing on MSM, people who inject drugs, and sex workers are scarce.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the partial support received from R01 (R01DA033168) to Dr. El-Bassel funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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  1. School of Social Work, Columbia University, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, Room 825, New York City, NY, 10027, USA

    Tina Jiwatram-Negrón & Nabila El-Bassel

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  1. Tina Jiwatram-Negrón
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  2. Nabila El-Bassel
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Correspondence to Tina Jiwatram-Negrón.

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Jiwatram-Negrón, T., El-Bassel, N. Systematic Review of Couple-Based HIV Intervention and Prevention Studies: Advantages, Gaps, and Future Directions. AIDS Behav 18, 1864–1887 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0827-7

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