By the end of 2001, an estimated 60 million people had been infected with HIV since the AIDS epidemic began and 20 million of those had already died.

However, an even greater epidemic is looming. It can - and must - be stopped. Numerous prevention initiatives have demonstrated that the spread of HIV can be reduced if relevant programmes are implemented and apropriate sexual and reproductive health services are made available, accessible and targeted to reach vulnerable populations.

IPPF's Member Associations have a key role to play in preventing the spread of HIV.

Member Associations work with women on reproductive health decision making and are uniquely placed to exploit the inherent connection between preventing unwanted pregnancies and preventing HIV/STIs.

Underscored by the universal right to access to HIV prevention information and services, most Member Associations also operate as health and human rights organizations, offering outreach services and critical sexual and reproductive health care to young people and other hard-to-reach populations.

Guided by IPPF's own Vision 2000 Strategic Plan, and the ICPD Programme of Action, Member Associations have increasingly expanded their traditional activities beyond family planning with women, and have introduced innovative approaches and projects to mobilize individuals and communities to prevent the spread of HIV. IPPF has been working in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention for nearly 20 years. Its programmes specifically focus on:

• Reaching out to groups who are at a higher risk of infection
• Promoting the sexual and reproductive health of young people
• Empowering women to make free and informed decisions concerning their sexual and reproductive health
• Forming partnerships with other organizations and groups
• Community action for people living with HIV/AIDS. Community action for people living with HIV/AIDS.

In all its areas of operation, IPPF is always mindful of the need for continuous learning and sharing of knowledge to facilitate the exchange of experience within and beyond the organization. With this end in mind, IPPF is publishing 'Learning from the Field', which contains examples of the recent work that family planning associations have been doing to promote the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS and to respond to the extreme need for care associated with AIDS.

The projects described in this publication range widely in scope and sophistication and the descriptions also vary in style and depth of detail, reflecting the different contexts and environments they originate in. These presentations also capture a variety of creative and context-specific approaches, reminding us that there is no single approach to HIV.

But taken as a whole they show both the range of activities and target groups and give an indication of lessons learned from the interventions, whether these are aimed at providing information, changing attitudes, altering behaviour, or teaching skills.

IPPF hopes that this collection of case studies in HIV/AIDS prevention and care from our family planning associations will be useful both throughout the Federation and to other agencies and non-governmental organizations working in this field.