title: Pre-exposure prophylaxis in Southern Africa: feasible or not?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Southern and Eastern Africa bear the brunt of the AIDS epidemic, and current prevention interventions remain inadequate. Antiretroviral-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is gaining momentum as an effective prevention intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Discussions have been started on how this strategy could be employed in Africa such that the populations most in need can be reached urgently for the greatest impact. This requires the selection of specific risk groups and service environments in which PrEP can be distributed safely and cost effectively while being mindful of any ethical issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the need for an integrated public health approach to this, a number of potential populations and opportunities for PrEP distribution exist and are discussed in this commentary.
authors.affiliation: Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI), University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Willem Daniel François
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.affiliation: Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI), University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Health4Men, Anova Health Institute, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rebe
authors.affiliation: IIDMM, UCT Health Science Faculty, Cape Town, South Africa; Linda-gail.bekker@hiv-research.org.za.
authors.forename: Linda-Gail
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bekker
mesh_terms: D000353:Africa, Southern; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D065129:Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: AIDS; HIV; PrEP; South Africa