SucheHIV and STI Prevention
Sexual health and the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
LIEBESLEBEN is an initiative of the Federal Institute of Public Health to promote sexual health. In 2016, the LIEBESLEBEN initiative replaced the ‘Don’t give AIDS a chance’ campaign.
The ‘Don’t give AIDS a chance’ campaign successfully promoted HIV and AIDS prevention in Germany for 30 years from 1987. To build on its achievements and address new challenges, as well as to promote overall sexual health, the ‘LIEBESLEBEN. Your love life is yours. Protect it.’ initiative was launched in May 2016.
The LIEBESLEBEN initiative, by the Federal Institute of Public Health (formerly the Federal Centre for Health Education), consolidates prevention measures for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Since 2021, it also encompasses legally mandated protection against conversion treatments, all under one roof as part of a broad promotion of sexual health.
The initiative is part of the BIS 2030 Strategy to Combat HIV, HBV, HCV and other sexually transmitted infections.
To achieve lasting prevention effects, the LIEBESLEBEN initiative employs a mix of strategies, including mass media campaigns, digital communication initiatives and personal outreach efforts.
The mass communication includes a nationwide poster campaign for STI prevention across the general population, a digital HPV vaccination campaign aimed at increasing vaccination rates among the target groups of parents and healthcare professionals, and an influencer campaign to prevent chlamydia infections, #WissenWasRumgeht (“KnowWhatsGoingRound”), which is supported by a predominantly digital media campaign targeting young adults.
For digital communication, the LIEBESLEBEN initiative utilises the comprehensive information portal www.liebesleben.de and actively interacts with users on its Instagram, Facebook and YouTube social media channels. The digital presence is complemented by content on the giphy.com platform.
The personal outreach efforts of the LIEBESLEBEN initiative include two phone and online counselling services: one focusing on HIV and other STIs, and another on sexual and gender diversity as well as protection against conversion treatments. LIEBESLEBEN – The Join-In Project, a free interactive initiative for secondary schools aimed at promoting sexual health, is also part of the personal outreach services.
Collaboration with Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe
The partnership between the Federal Institute of Public Health, a Government Organization, and Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (DAH), a Non-Profit Organization, is crucial for the successful prevention of HIV and STDs in Germany. As a state organisation, the Federal Institute of Public Health focuses on the general population, particularly adolescents and young adults. The self-help organisation Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe primarily targets groups that are particularly affected by and at risk of HIV. HIV prevention at Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe is funded by the Federal Institute of Public Health, creating a synergistic relationship between the two organisations.
Support and cooperation
The Federal Institute of Public Health collaborates on HIV/STI prevention with a variety of specialist organisations, institutions and groups, both nationally and internationally. Key to prevention efforts are counsellors in public health offices, local AIDS support groups, other advice centres, teachers, healthcare professionals and pharmacies.
The Federal Institute of Public Health also collaborates with major organisations like the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung (German AIDS-Foundation) and the Deutsche STI-Gesellschaft (German STD Society).
Since mid-2005, the Federal Institute of Public Health has worked closely with the Verband der Privaten Krankenversicherungen e. V. (Association of Private Health Insurers), which is actively involved in promoting sexual health and preventing HIV and STDs.
In recent years, many other supporters, both large and small, have joined the prevention efforts. The largest and most important of these is the Fachverband Aussenwerbung e. V. (Outdoor Advertising Association), whose member companies provided several million free poster spaces across Germany between 1993 and 2023. By providing 80,000 poster spaces annually to the LIEBESLEBEN initiative until 2023, the FAW reached 95 percent of the population with HIV/STD prevention messages. This makes the poster campaign one of the LIEBESLEBEN initiative’s most wide-reaching measures.
Internet Offerings
www.liebesleben.de
The online portal provides comprehensive information on sexual health, sexual and gender diversity, protection against conversion treatments, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as prevention and treatment options. The portal also offers content in easy-to-read language, German Sign Language and several foreign languages. It also provides materials for professionals and the media.
www.liebesleben.de/en/get-advice
Telephone and online counselling are key elements of the Federal Institute of Public Health’s prevention and education work in promoting sexual health. Counselling is offered personally and anonymously on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as on sexual and gender diversity and protection against conversion treatments.
www.die-infektastischen-sti.de
The prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is closely connected. That’s why LIEBESLEBEN has developed the format ‘The Infectastic STIs’: the puppets Trippo Tripper, Feig Feigwarze, Chlam Chlamydie, Hepp Hepatitis and Philis Syphilis explain to the target audience what these diseases are, how they are transmitted and how best to protect against them. All clips from the series, along with background information, are available at www.die-infektastischen-sti.de.
www.welt-aids-tag.de
The online platform for the joint Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe and Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung (German AIDS Foundation) campaign for World AIDS Day, held annually on 1 December.
Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been the main day for awareness and remembrance of HIV and AIDS. In Germany, the community campaign promotes solidarity, encourages public debate and fosters broad social engagement.
www.zanzu.de
This web portal provides clear explanations in 14 languages on topics such as the body, pregnancy and birth, contraception, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, sexuality and relationships, rights and laws in Germany, as well as support and counselling services. With www.zanzu.de, counselling centres and doctors are given a practical tool for their daily work, while adults who are new to Germany gain discreet access to information on sexual and reproductive health.
