Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half

• Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half, including among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work.

Sexual transmission accounts for more than 80% of new HIV infections worldwide. It continues to be one of the most difficult modes of HIV transmission to address.

The latest data shows that combination HIV prevention is working. Where key behavioural indicators have positive trends related to the risk of HIV infection—condom use, sex before age 15 years—the incidence of HIV infection is markedly reduced.

Currently, access to HIV prevention services is limited compared with the share of the burden faced by men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender people in many parts of the world. There is a lack of sufficient strategic information in these populations. In many cases, policy and legal barriers stand in the way of sufficient programmes to respond effectively to HIV risks.

UNAIDS calls for promoting social norms and individual behaviours that result in sexual health, supporting the leadership of people living with HIV for ‘positive health, dignity and prevention’, and scaling up access to prevention commodities and services—especially for people at higher risk.

It is to ensure that men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender people are empowered to both access and deliver comprehensive and appropriate packages of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and by ensuring that law enforcement agencies and the judicial system protect their rights.

Also needed is scaled up access to rights-based sexual and reproductive health education and services for young people. And empowering young people to prevent sexual and other transmission of HIV infection among their peers, ensuring access to HIV testing and prevention efforts with and for young people in the context of sexuality education; ensuring enabling legal environments, education and employment opportunities to reduce vulnerability to HIV.