Citation

Nelson EW. Am. J. Prev. Med. 1991; 7(3): 146-149.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1931142

Abstract

Current efforts to control the spread of AIDS in the US are lacking for a variety of reasons. Pattern 1 male homosexual transmission has seen a significant drop because of education and prevention campaigns within the gay community. Pattern 2 heterosexual/maternal-fetal transmission has seen a significant increase because of a lack of effective programs to directly address this particular subepidemic. The AIDS deaths for women 15-44 have increased 75% over 3 years. Neonatal infection rates of 1.0-2.4% are common in metropolitan hospitals. The best method of serving this need is the sexual self-defense(SSD) concept. This program incorporates changing heterosexual women's attitudes an perceptions about risk, and changing their behavior so that they universally use double barrier protection for all sexual activity. Double barrier protection includes condoms and spermicides like nonoxynol-9. The biggest obstacle has been a failure by women to see their risk factor properly. Another problem has been the Bush administration's failure to properly frame the problem. The Presidential Commission on The Human Immunodeficiency Virus lists hemophiliacs over bisexuals an IV drug users as risk groups. Studies has shown that 50% of HIV-infected women attending family planning clinics do not associate their sexual behavior with high risk. Thus voluntary testing for HIV could be missing 50% of the infected women because they do not consider themselves at risk and thus do not get tested. Another problem stems from the fact that condom use is very low in primary relationships. Men may use condoms when they see prostitutes, but will not use them with their girlfriend. This behavior exemplifies the misperception of risk. Just as the defensive driving program got people to drive safely, SSD must get people to have sex safely. It is the responsibility of the government to educate the people about SSD, just as the surgeon general educated people about the risks of smoking in 1964.

Language: en