Field trials of AIDS prevention methods must continue
Field trials of AIDS prevention methods are as essential astheyare politically awkward, argues this Nature editorial.
Women urgently need more effective HIV prevention measuresthatthey can control, the editorial says. Most new infectionsarisethrough heterosexual transmission, but women are oftenpowerless toinsist on condom use, the best prevention method.
Trials have been conducted on the effectiveness ofwomen-initiatedprevention methods, such as microbicides anddiaphragms, andpreventative drugs that can be used by both men andwomen.
Now there are concerns that the recent failure of somepotentialprevention methods will lead funders to pull out. But,argues theeditorial, it is not unusual for development and testingto take along time ― researchers have not given up hope of avaccine for HIVfor example.
Developing effective prevention techniques ― and deliveringbetterthose that are proven to work ― requires a morethoroughunderstanding of issues such as intimacy, culturalexpectations andinterpersonal relationships, the editorialsays.
Work is needed in both development of new methodsandcommunication with the communities involved to control thepandemicand help women stay healthy.
滋病预防手段的实地试验必须继续 《自然》杂志的这篇社论认为，艾滋病预防手段的实地试验尽管在政治上存在困难，它们是至关重要的。
该社论说，妇女急需更有效的、她们自己能做主的艾滋病病毒预防措施。大多数艾滋病感染是在异性之间传播的，但是妇女常常没有权利能坚持（让对方）使用安全套这种最佳预防手段。
科学家已经开展了关于妇女自主的预防手段的临床试验，例如杀微生物剂和子宫帽，还包括男女都可使用的预防药物。
如今，有人担心近来一些可能的预防手段的试验失败将导致资助者终止资助。但是该社论认为，开发和测试需要很长的时间，这并非不寻常的情况――例如，尽管经历了多次失败，科学家还没有放弃开发出艾滋病病毒疫苗的希望。
该社论还说，开发有效的预防技术――以及更好地提供被证明有效的技术――需要对诸如隐私、文化期待和人与人之间的关系有更透彻的理解。
开发新的预防手段、与相关的社区沟通从而控制艾滋病大流行，以及帮助妇女保持健康，这些都需要加以研究。
感谢科学与发展网络 (SciDev.Net)惠赠赐稿 (来源：人民网科技)
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