In this audio excerpt from Science Friday, Buzzfeed’s Azeen Ghoraysh discusses a Dutch study on HIV infection rates and how the research highlights the slow adoption of PrEP in European countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2014 approximately 2 million people worldwide became newly infected with HIV, in spite of the fact that PrEP has been available since 2010.

See the Educator’s Toolbox below for a student worksheet (PDF & DOC) and audio transcript.

Vocabulary

• epidemic– a widespread occurrence of a disease among a specific population.
• HIV– Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• PrEP– According to the CDC, “pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at very high risk for HIV take HIV medicines daily to lower their chances of getting infected.”

Activate Prior Knowledge

• What is HIV? How does it affect the body?
• How is HIV transmitted?
• What are ways to prevent the transmission of HIV?

• Audio Excerpt: “HIV Prevention With PrEP, an Ancient Microbiome, and Freezing Fat” January 8, 2016. (original segment)
• Audio Transcript
• Reading: Hughes, Virginia. “Dutch Study: Most New HIV Infections Could Be Prevented With Pill.” BuzzFeed. N.p., 6 Jan. 2016.
• Student Worksheet (PDF or DOC)

• What were researchers in the Netherlands trying to determine in their study? Why?
• What do you think is still getting in the way of PrEP adoption in Europe?
• What further research should be conducted that relates to this study?
• Think about your community. What are its current efforts to inform the public of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and methods of prevention/treatment? Do you believe those efforts are effective? Why or why not?
• GENERATE IDEAS: Now that these findings have been released, what should the global community do to educate people about and/or promote HIV prevention methods like PrEP?

Be sure to discuss how to target different populations and locations (think different ages, gender, sexuality, countries, ethnic, and religious groups).

Student Writing Prompt

According to Buzzfeed’s Virginia Hughes, “…researchers found that an estimated 71 percent of HIV transmissions came from men who had not been diagnosed…”  In light of this and findings discussed in the Science Friday excerpt, discuss reasons why the global community should incorporate HIV prevention methods like PrEP into their global policy/education reform. Suggest ways to address these needs.

Ideally, writing responses should:

• Include evidence from the Science Friday clip and at least one other source.
• Differentiate between personal opinion and fact.
• Share and discuss a comment or idea offered during the discussion.

Text

• Abstract of Dutch Study: “Sources of HIV infection among men having sex with men and implications for prevention”
• Childress, Sarah. “CDC Reports Troubling Rise in HIV Infections Among Young People.” Frontline. PBS, 27 Nov. 2012.
• Fauci, Anthony S. “No More Excuses. We Have the Tools to End the HIV/AIDS Pandemic.” The Washington Post, 08 Jan. 2016.
• Glazek, Christopher. “Why Is No One On the First Treatment To Prevent H.I.V.?” The New Yorker, 30 Sept. 2013.

Video

• “CDC Director: ‘Reducing the HIV Epidemic Is Challenging‘” Washington Post. The Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2016.
• Craig, Kenneth. “Pill Could Stop HIV “in My Generation” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 4 Jan. 2016.

HIV and PrEP Treatment Explainers

• “What Is PrEP?” Vimeo. PrEP REP Project, n.d.
• http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html
• https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/pre-exposure-prophylaxis/
• http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs360/en/