HIV numbers are rising
A CDC report on the number of HIV infections nationwide shows a 48% increase between the years 2005 and 2006. In its Surveillance Report the CDC said there were 52,878 new HIV infections in 45 states and the District of Columbia for 2006. In 2005, CDC reported only 35,537 new infections in 38 states and the District of Columbia.
Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation has called it a catastrophe.
Though the near 50% increase seems alarming, keep in mind that seven more states are reporting numbers this year. So it is hard to compare the numbers from 2005 and 2006 and come up with an absolute figure. Even so, it seems likely that there has been an increase in the number of infections but the figure is probably less than 48 percent.
Weinstein added, “We hope that this is not yet another instance of the Bush Administration's suppression of information that could be damaging to their image, especially in light of the fact that the spike in new infections is, at least in part, likely due to failed policies of the administration, including the promotion of 'abstinence-only' prevention messages and the failure to promote condom use.”
I was curious to see if there were any studies linking abstinence-only programs to the increase in HIV infection. Abstinence-only programs promote sexual abstinence but do not provide any education on safe sex/condom usage. I was able to find a study from Aug 2007 that showed that abstinence-only programs have no effect on HIV infection rates in high-income nations, such as the US.
Abstinence-plus programs promote the message of abstinence but also educate teens on the risks of unprotected sex and encourage condom use. A more recent ( Jan 2008) study of the abstinence-plus programs shows they are effective in reducing short-term and long-term HIV risk behavior among youth in high-income countries.
So it would seem that abstinence plus programs may be more effective at reducing risk of HIV infection in high income nations. Maybe that is the way to go to help combat the increase in number of HIV infections? Thoughts?
Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation has called it a catastrophe.
Though the near 50% increase seems alarming, keep in mind that seven more states are reporting numbers this year. So it is hard to compare the numbers from 2005 and 2006 and come up with an absolute figure. Even so, it seems likely that there has been an increase in the number of infections but the figure is probably less than 48 percent.
Weinstein added, “We hope that this is not yet another instance of the Bush Administration's suppression of information that could be damaging to their image, especially in light of the fact that the spike in new infections is, at least in part, likely due to failed policies of the administration, including the promotion of 'abstinence-only' prevention messages and the failure to promote condom use.”
I was curious to see if there were any studies linking abstinence-only programs to the increase in HIV infection. Abstinence-only programs promote sexual abstinence but do not provide any education on safe sex/condom usage. I was able to find a study from Aug 2007 that showed that abstinence-only programs have no effect on HIV infection rates in high-income nations, such as the US.
Abstinence-plus programs promote the message of abstinence but also educate teens on the risks of unprotected sex and encourage condom use. A more recent ( Jan 2008) study of the abstinence-plus programs shows they are effective in reducing short-term and long-term HIV risk behavior among youth in high-income countries.
So it would seem that abstinence plus programs may be more effective at reducing risk of HIV infection in high income nations. Maybe that is the way to go to help combat the increase in number of HIV infections? Thoughts?
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