New good practice statement on counselling behavioural interventions for key populations to prevent HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs

Overview

Key populations (men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers, trans and gender diverse people and people in prisons) are at increased risk of and disproportionately affected by HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 

Risk behaviours such as condomless or other unprotected sex, sharing needles/syringes or illicit drug use that may be more common in key populations, when combined with poor access to prevention interventions, can lead to increased risk of acquiring HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. These risk behaviours interventions are often included in key population programmes, however, evidence found that they do not change behaviours or reduce new infections. In order to change these behaviours, the interventions can use different approaches, including counselling, education or empowerment. 

This policy brief focuses on counselling behavioural interventions; these can be provided by health care workers, by peers, can be one time or multiple sessions, can be brief or long, can be provided in groups, individually, online or face-to-face.