New results about HIV incidence in the United States headlined a session describing the state of the US epidemic.  New CDC data, released three days ago, estimate that in 2006 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the US.  Although the incidence estimate is higher than previous CDC estimates of incidence, the increase is attributed to improved methods of estimating incidence, rather than true increases in new HIV infections.  MSM were the only risk subgroup with increasing trends in incidence; in 2006, 53% of new infections were among MSM, and 45% of new infections occurred among blacks. 

Data from the school-based US Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System (YRBS) suggested that sexual experience decreased and condom use at last sex increased through about 2003, but that from 2003-2007, leveling occurred in these measures.  The authors suggested that improvements in sexual health indices for US youth may be leveling off, and called for renewed efforts to delay the sexual debut among youth and increase condom use for those who are sexually active. There was an acknowledgement that the most at risk youth are not in school and have higher rates of at risk behaviors.

A randomized trial design of an intervention designed for young African American women was reported.  The study randomly selected women who were enrolled in a health maintenance organization, and included only women who reported recent unprotected sex.  The intervention consisted of a “package” of interventions, including behavioral, biomedical, and social components.  Women who received the HIV intervention were 1/3 less likely to acquire a new non-viral STI, and 2/3 less likely to acquire a high risk HPV infection.  Women who received the intervention were also less likely to have multiple or casual sex partners.