Prevention of sexually transmitted infections in women.

Because the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is based on individual sexual behaviors, the most successful STI prevention initiatives have been behavioral interventions seeking to change individual risk behaviors. This article explores systematic and community-based prevention initiatives and the steps in development and validation of behavioral interventions to reduce STIs. Key interventions and the trials in which they were proven effective are discussed in detail. It is hoped that a greater understanding of the development and validation of behavioral interventions for STI prevention will encourage physicians to accept these interventions as additional tools to prevent disease and suffering.