Although the global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the developing world has, in general, been inadequate, there are key interventions which have been proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of HIV and relevant risky behaviors. We review and analyze these interventions according to three criteria: importance to HIV transmission, amenability to change, and cost-effectiveness. P. Jha is at the Economics Advisory Service, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. N. J. D. Nagelkerke, B. Willbond, S. Moses, and F. A. Plummer are in the Departments of Medical Microbiology, Community Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3E 0W3. N.J.D.N. is also in the Department of Public Health, University of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, and National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Amsterdam, Netherlands. E. N. Ngugi and F.A.P. are at the Department of Community Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. J. V. R. Prasada Rao is at the National AIDS Control Organization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India. F.A.P. is also at the National Microbiology Laboratory, Health Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Ramasundaram, S . Can India avoid being devastated by HIV?. BMJ 324: 182-183 [Full Text] Volume 292, Number 5515, Issue of 13 Apr 2001, pp. 224-225.