Condoms not effective in preventing HIV?<\/p>\n
Dear Dr. Donya,<\/p>\n
I have just read your article in The Jakarta Post about
\nteenagers and STDs. I am doing sociocultural research into
\nHIV\/AIDS awareness in regard to actual sex practices and sexual
\nbehavior in Banda, Maluku.<\/p>\n
I note that you say a latex condom does not protect against
\nAIDS. This is against all current thinking throughout the medical
\nand social world. Condoms are rejected in certain parts of the
\nworld not because they do not protect but because they are
\nagainst certain religious thought which feels that sexual
\nabstinence would be the only message for prevention.<\/p>\n
The people who are at risk are those who do not practice
\nabstinence already and probably will continue in this way because
\nthey do not see HIV as an immediate threat. They need to use
\ncondoms. The message your article gives to teenagers appears very
\ncontrary and confusing.<\/p>\n
- Dr. Agnes Westwater<\/p>\n
Dear Dr. Westwater<\/p>\n
I am pleased to see I have your readership and I thank you for
\nyour participation. I do understand and agree with you that the
\nmessage does seem a bit contradictory in that in one paragraph I
\nstate that the use of a condom is highly recommended, then in the
\nnext paragraph I say that a condom does not prevent the
\ntransmission of HIV\/AIDS. My husband also had the same question.<\/p>\n
The best way to answer your question is to refer to the
\ninformation distributed by Centers for Disease Control and
\nPrevention (CDC). In the information offered for frequently asked
\nquestions about the transmission of HIV\/AIDS, CDC states that HIV
\ncan enter the body through mucous membranes e.g. eyes or inside
\nthe nose and mouth. Later in the report it states that research
\nhas shown the effectiveness of latex condoms used on the penis to
\nprevent the transmission of HIV.<\/p>\n
Condoms are not risk-free, but they greatly reduce the risk of
\ninfection if your partner is HIV positive. The CDC even goes as
\nfar as to say that under the right conditions prolonged kissing
\nhas shown to transmit HIV. I appreciate your question and this
\nopportunity to clarify any confusion I may have created.<\/p>\n
My own experience has been to participate in a long-term study
\nconcerning the transmission of HIV\/AIDS from mother to child
\namong sex workers in Thailand. I have also worked in the high
\ntourist areas and have consulted with HIV infected people who
\nswore they used a condom. For these reason I stated that the only
\ntrue prevention is abstinence. I hope this answer is more
\nsatisfying. Thanks.<\/p>\n
- Dr. Donya<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/condoms-not-effective-in-preventing-hiv-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }