Further sources of information

This review is not an exhaustive discussion of all evaluated interventions in HIV prevention. It raises a number of issues about research into such interventions, and highlights particularly successful interventions. For further information about research in each of these areas, you can go to:

• National HIV Prevention Information Service (020 7413 2001); www.hda-online.org.uk/nhpis/
• Health Development Agency Health Promotion Information Centre (020 7413 1995; http://healthpromis.had-online.org.uk/)
• EpiCentre (Evaluation of Health Promotion and Social Interventions, University of London Institute of Education) (020 7612 6393; health@ioe.ac)

Each of these organisations can supply summaries of journal articles or personalised literature searches. Charges apply to individuals outside the North Thames region for EpiCentre services.

• A useful summary of research evidence from the US is available at http:// www.AIDSCAP. Copies of a twenty page review of current data can be downloaded, along with factsheets (somewhat rudimentary and US biased in their data analysis).
• A review article, Prevention of HIV infection, by Kyung–Hee Choi and Thomas J. Coates, was published in AIDS, 1994, 8:1371–1389. It includes discussion of interventions in developing countries
• A book, Preventing AIDS: Theories and methods of behavioural interventions by Ralph DiClemente and John Peterson (Plenum Press, New York, 1994) provides a useful and detailed overview of interventions reported up to 1994, although its focus is largely confined to US populations
• A supplement to the journal AIDS Education and Prevention (volume 9, number 1), on effectiveness of behavioural interventions, was published in 1997
• A review, AIDS prevention strategies that work: a review of National Institues of Mental Health–sponsored research, was published in 1996 by the Office on AIDS and the US National Institutes of Mental Health.

A lack of research on interventions for African communities

This review largely covers interventions with gay men, students and injecting drug users because little or no research has been conducted in the UK on interventions targeted at African communities. However, a detailed preliminary evaluation of a number of UK projects targeted at African communities has been published by the Health and Education Research Unit of the University of London Institute of Education.

• An assessment of HIV prevention interventions with refugees and asylum seekers, by Krishna Maharaj, Ian Warwick and Geoff Whitty, HERU, 1996.

Research on interventions for injecting drug users

This section does not attempt to duplicate an excellent and lengthy summary which has already been published by the Health Education Authority.

• Risk, Intervention and Change: HIV prevention and drug use by Tim Rhodes, HEA, 1994.

Research on interventions with gay and bisexual men

An excellent summary of psychosocial factors involved in HIV risk reduction and the success of interventions can be found in:

• Preventing AIDS: Theories and methods of behavioural interventions, edited by Ralph DiClemente and John Peterson, Plenum Press, New York, 1994. See especially Chapter Fourteen.