Social and Behavioural Aspects of the HIV Epidemic--A Review

SUMMARY Social and behavioural research has made an important contribution to our understanding of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Early studies elucidated behavioural risk factors for AIDS, and pointed towards an infectious aetiology for the disease. Subsequent studies, particularly amongst homosexual men and drug users, have clarified the social and sexual determinants of virus spread and documented changes in behaviour in response to the onset of AIDS. Nevertheless, the advent of the HIV epidemic has also pointed to the relative paucity of studies of the sexual and drug-using behaviour of the general population. Data of this kind, linked to studies of the incidence of HIV infection, are necessary to assess the potential for further epidemic spread of HIV. The paper reviews some of the behavioural research to date and considers possible areas of future research which may contribute to our understanding of the social determinants and prevention of HIV transmission.