Reframing HIV Prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa Using Couple-Centered Approaches

This article focuses on couple-centered approaches in the prevention of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. First it describes the barriers to couples-centered HIV prevention which are social systemic programmatic and historical. Most HIV prevention care and treatment programs have focused on individuals rather than couples making disclosure and partner testing a challenge. Second it discusses opportunities for overcoming the barriers associated with couple-centered approaches which include: addressing gender-imbalanced power dynamics home-based HIV testing and counseling guidelines and delivery of comprehensive maternal and child health services.