Scientists back use of new drug to prevent HIV in discordant couples
HIV discordant couples march through the streets of Kibera, Nairobi. Scientists have backed the use of an anti-retroviral drug before sex to prevent HIV infection among couples where one partner is not infected. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The development will now make it possible for families where only one of the partners is HIV positive (discordant couples) and not on medication to give birth without risk.
- In the study, the researcher said, recommendations were made for infected partners to use ARV drugs according to national guidelines.
- The study enrolled 1,031 high risk discordant couples who were closely monitored for two years.
Scientists have backed the use of an anti-retroviral drug before sex to prevent HIV infection among couples where one partner is not infected.
The development will now make it possible for families where only one of the partners is HIV positive (discordant couples) and not on medication to give birth without risk.
With the approval, couples have up to 96 per cent chances of not infecting one another by using the drug, known as Truvada, before sex.
The study was done by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) between 2011 and 2014.
According to Prof Elizabeth Bukusi, Kemri’s deputy director of research and training, the uninfected partner takes a pill every day before intimacy and discontinues it six months after the infected partner is placed on drugs.
The study enrolled 1,031 high risk discordant couples who were closely monitored for two years.
“Out of the number that participated in the study, only two uninfected partners became infected with HIV and neither of these people were using pills at the time of the study,” said Prof Bukusi while releasing the findings during the ongoing Kisumu Agricultural Society of Kenya show that ended yesterday.
She said that the two who got infected refused to use the drug when the study was going on.
In the study, the researcher said, recommendations were made for infected partners to use ARV drugs according to national guidelines.
The study was done at Lumumba Centre in Kisumu and Thika district hospitals as well as in Uganda’s Infectious Disease Institute at Makerere University and Kabwohe Clinical Research Centre.
Study coordinator Josephine Odoyo said using the drug prior to and during use of early anti-retroviral provides HIV protection to uninfected partners.
