STD Prevention: Behavior Change

AIDS has forced people to concentrate on its prevention, since there is neither a cure for it nor a vaccine against it. This renewed interest in prevention has, in turn, reminded the medical profession of other incurable and curable STDs that could profit from the same measures. Indeed, not only local health authorities, but many national governments and international organizations have now once again recognized the importance of STD prevention and are making great efforts to support it. In addition to traditional measures like safeguarding the blood supply, testing patients for diagnostic purposes and tracing the contacts of infected persons, there are now also increasing attempts to change the sexual behavior of those at risk. This goal of behavior change is being pursued under two slogans: “Abstinence” and “Safer Sex”.