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New Research Shows Dangers of Condoms in HIV Prevention
SeaMax News ^ | 1/14/2004 | Fr. Michael Reilly

Posted on 01/20/2004 11:08:11 AM PST by Hugenot

New data based on the results of massive condom distribution in Africa indicates that condoms have done little if anything to slow the spread of AIDs, according to Austin Ruse of the Culture of Life Foundation.

In fact, they may even contribute to the spread of HIV because they give people a false sense of security.

"20 years into the pandemic there is no evidence that more condoms leads to less AIDS," stated Dr. Edward C. Green of Harvard’s' Center for Population and Development Studies.

Green continued to say that "we are not seeing what we expected: that higher levels of condom availability result in lower HIV prevalence."

At the Medical Institute for Sexual Health HIV/Pandemic in Washington, DC last week medical experts presented findings which indicate that the wisespread availability of condoms statistically increase promiscuity and therefore the risk of contracting HIV.

For example, Dr. Norman Hearst of the University of California reported statistics from several African nations (Kenya, Botswana) which show a correlation between increased condom sales and rising numbers of HIV infections each year.

How can this be? Hearst explained that we are "raising a generation of young people in Africa that believe that condoms will prevent HIV."

But can condoms really always guarantee safe sex? According to Hearst, "the most recent Met-analysis came up with 80%…but even if it is 90%, over time it’s the question of when, not if…you don't want to give people a false sense of security..."

That false sense of security evidently contributes to people engaging in sex with multiple partners.

Dr. Green said that that "having multiple sexual partners drives AIDS epidemics. If people did not have multiple sex partners, epidemics would not develop or, once developed, be sustained." He continued, "over a lifetime, it is the number of sexual partners [that matter]…condom levels are found to be non-determining of HIV infection levels."

According to Dr. Rand Stoneburner (formerly of the WHO and an independent advisor to USAID), "declines of HIV in Uganda are linked to behavior change…[and] include primary risk avoidance with a 65% decline in casual sex."

The Ugandan government, which promoted abstinence and faithfulness, helped bring about a 75% decline in HIV prevalence among 15-19 age group, 60% in the 20-24, and a 54% decline overall by 1998.

In other words, the solution to AIDs is behavior, not condoms.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: africa; aids; catholiclist; condoms; education; grids; healthcare; hiv; homosexualagenda
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To: tdadams
I should add, that what was proven is that the virus is so fragile, that it had little chance of surviving long enough to pass through the micro-scopic openings in the latex, not that it was not possible.
21 posted on 01/20/2004 12:39:44 PM PST by Eva
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To: *Homosexual Agenda; EdReform; scripter; GrandMoM; backhoe; Yehuda; Clint N. Suhks; saradippity; ...
Homosexual Agenda Ping - AIDS is prevented by by one thing and one thing only.


And it works every time it's tried.

If anyone wants:

(A) ON
or
(B) OFF

this ping list, ping me!
22 posted on 01/20/2004 12:49:20 PM PST by little jeremiah
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To: *Homosexual Agenda; EdReform; scripter; GrandMoM; backhoe; Yehuda; Clint N. Suhks; saradippity; ...
Homosexual Agenda Ping - AIDS is prevented by by one thing and one thing only.


And it works every time it's tried.

If anyone wants:

(A) ON
or
(B) OFF

this ping list, ping me!
23 posted on 01/20/2004 12:49:33 PM PST by little jeremiah
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Sorry for the duplicate!~
24 posted on 01/20/2004 12:50:32 PM PST by little jeremiah
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To: Eva
You guys can argue about this as long as you like; me, being a recent small-earth convert, will take good news wherever I find it.
25 posted on 01/20/2004 12:51:34 PM PST by Old Professer
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To: cookcounty
Are you sure it was "hours"? (how many hours?)

I read it a long time ago so I can't remember specifics, but it was an absurdly long time. My feeling at the time after reading about the research methods were that they were completely unrealistic.

It's the same reaction I'd have to an anti-smoking group telling you you'll get X tar and Y nicotine off a cigarette, and their tests hook a vacuum to the back of a cigarette from light time to finish, including what you get from the burning butt. Just not real-world.

26 posted on 01/20/2004 12:57:25 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: gnarledmaw
"All cultures are equal!"

I remember talking to someone about how we shouldn't impose our ideas and values as that might upset them. Reading stuff like this makes me think that we should impose and if they don't like it, tough.

They'll thank us later.

27 posted on 01/20/2004 12:57:59 PM PST by Killborn (I'd rather have Big Bizniz than Big Guvmint. (Happy New Year and God bless you all!))
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To: antiRepublicrat; tdadams; .45MAN; AAABEST; AKA Elena; al_c; american colleen; Angelus Errare; ...
This is an ages old rumor that has it's origins with the abstinence-is-the-only-answer fundamentalists. It was long ago proven to be utter nonsense.

IIRC, in their "research" they filled condoms with a fluid containing millions of microscopic balls the size of the virus.

Regardless of whether this point is valid, condoms have a 20% failure rate in real world usage in preventing pregnancy.

A woman can only get pregnant 7 to 10 days per months, if the condom fails.

But she can get HIV 365 days a year.

So by simple math, the failure rate at preventing HIV transmission for condoms will be MUCH higher than 20%, as the article in this thread proves.

28 posted on 01/20/2004 1:10:10 PM PST by Polycarp IV (http://www.cathfam.org/)
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To: OXENinFLA
Then SAVAGE is an idiot who thinks Africa is a country.
29 posted on 01/20/2004 1:21:17 PM PST by zimdog
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To: antiRepublicrat
My feeling at the time after reading about the research methods were that they were completely unrealistic.

It was probably like a lot of "research" that's put forth by those with a vested interest in swaying public opinion, come to a conclusion first and then find a way to get to that conclusion.

30 posted on 01/20/2004 1:33:19 PM PST by tdadams
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To: CAtholic Family Association
condoms have a 20% failure rate in real world usage in preventing pregnancy.

I'm sure you won't mind linking me to a legitimate study that affirms the 20% figure you mention. Frankly, that seems utterly implausible, even when factoring in human error.

31 posted on 01/20/2004 1:36:05 PM PST by tdadams
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To: Hugenot
According to Dr. Rand Stoneburner (formerly of the WHO and an independent advisor to USAID), "declines of HIV in Uganda are linked to behavior change…[and] include primary risk avoidance with a 65% decline in casual sex."

I think this is the very first time I've ever seen an "AIDS official" actually say this obvious fact in public.

32 posted on 01/20/2004 1:38:27 PM PST by r9etb
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To: CAtholic Family Association
condoms have a 20% failure rate in real world usage in preventing pregnancy.

... when used improperly. Of course abstinence is the best way to prevent STDs, but the scare tactics of the abstinence crowd go overboard. For people with intelligence, the outrageous claims and connections make them a laughingstock just as are most of the ONDCP anti-drug commercials out there.

33 posted on 01/20/2004 1:46:30 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: tdadams
I'm sure you won't mind linking me to a legitimate study that affirms the 20% figure you mention. Frankly, that seems utterly implausible, even when factoring in human error.

I've seen this figure before, too. IIRC it's much lower, around single digits, with "perfect use". I think the 20% is with "typical use", meaning all the times people don't bother to use one or they use it incorrectly. For all I know, people in African countries use a condom once a year, thinking it's some sort of magical charm instead of understanding how it's really supposed to work. I guess that would make for a pretty high typical failure rate, too.

34 posted on 01/20/2004 1:54:48 PM PST by ReagansShinyHair
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To: tdadams
No more nonsensical than the claim that the distribution of condoms will stop the spread of AIDS, even in the developed countries. Irresponsible behavior kills people.
35 posted on 01/20/2004 2:13:58 PM PST by RobbyS (XPqu)
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To: Killborn
They'll thank us later. You mean the gays will thank the cops for stopping orgies? I thought the whole point of the gay rights movement is to keep the people from hasseling them?
36 posted on 01/20/2004 2:18:01 PM PST by RobbyS (XPqu)
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To: ReagansShinyHair
You think many 16-year old kids will bother to use them correctly? Yeah, like they drive their cars in accordance with the rules of the road.
37 posted on 01/20/2004 2:20:18 PM PST by RobbyS (XPqu)
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To: RobbyS
I was talking about foreign cultures and traditions/ideas that are morally and ethically wrong to anyone with several brain cells (of course the libs don't have any). In any case, I was saying that we should impose our culture so we no longer have to deal with the kind of BS we have in the Middle East and Africa.

I wasn't thinking about the gay factor at all.
38 posted on 01/20/2004 3:03:03 PM PST by Killborn (I'd rather have Big Bizniz than Big Guvmint. (Happy New Year and God bless you all!))
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To: Killborn
It is not all a matter of primative culture. Thailand has a terrific problem with AIDS and other STDs because of the sex-tourists from places like Germany and Japan.
39 posted on 01/20/2004 3:14:58 PM PST by RobbyS (XPqu)
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To: RobbyS
I'm not just talking AIDS, I'm talking most problems in general. The culture problem goes both ways. We not only have to deal with barbaric, primitive culture as seen in Africa and the Arab world, we also have to deal with nihilistic, self absorbed culture as espoused by libs.

When I say "our" culture, I meant one of freedom, responsibility, and justice, the true ideals and values of America.
40 posted on 01/20/2004 3:41:47 PM PST by Killborn (I'd rather have Big Bizniz than Big Guvmint. (Happy New Year and God bless you all!))
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