4. Research Needs

Social science and operations research is needed to improve the effectiveness of intervention programmes to change sexual behaviour, prevent unwanted pregnancies, and reduce exposure to STDs and HIV infection. The experience and cost-effectiveness of integrated reproductive health and AIDS prevention programmes should be explored. Research on improving the acceptability of condoms, and evaluation of the effects of their use, is also needed. More research on sexual behaviour and values in different cultures would be helpful. Research on problems of addressing the special requirements of women, adolescents, and high-risk populations is needed. The design and impact of information, education, and communication programmes is another important area for study.

The socioeconomic consequences of AIDS and the interlinkages between AIDS and poverty should be examined. Demographic research topics, aimed at improving the accuracy of projections, include national seroprevalence data, length of incubation period under differing conditions, fertility behaviour changes in response to AIDS, and implications of the epidemic on infertility.

In the area of biomedical research, an important objective would be development of a safe and effective barrier to HIV transmission that would be under the control of women. Possibilities include the female condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, and microbicide or antiviral chemicals. It is worthwhile noting that these methods would simultaneously prevent conventional STDs.