When the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was first discovered over 20 years ago, there began a huge effort to educate people about the risks associated with HIV infection, and promote abstinence, condoms and clean needles as ways to curb the growing rate of infection. Despite the massive effort and expenditure put into prevention of HIV infection, the global infection rate has increased, not decreased. Researchers and the medical community have had to take a closer look at the problem to realise that prevention of HIV infection is more complex than just giving people education about the disease or providing resources in the form of condoms or clear needles. Cultural, racial, economic and gender barriers put people at risk for HIV infection.