The ABCs and beyond: Developing an operations research agenda on comprehensive behavior change approaches for HIV prevention: Report from a technical meeting

In April 2003, the Horizons Program sponsored a one-day technical meeting to develop and set priorities for an operations research agenda to study effective behavior change strategies for HIV risk reduction, particularly those that focus on the “ABC” behaviors: abstinence or delaying sex, being faithful or partner reduction, and condom use. Representatives from more than 20 organizations and programs involved in prevention research and programming discussed epidemiological, behavioral, psychosocial, and structural factors that may help determine the effectiveness of promoting the ABCs and other prevention programs. During the meeting, specific opportunities for collaborations and areas of particular interest for each group were discussed, with the goal of permitting each organization to focus on its strengths while working together toward similar outcomes. As noted in this report, the Horizons partnership plans to pursue some of the key operations research questions that were identified by the technical experts