Abstinence seen as key to AIDS fight in Africa

[Guest guest]

Abstinence seen as key to AIDS fight in Africa

Boston, May. 9, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Efforts to curb the AIDS epidemic

in Africa should concentrate on promoting sexual restraint, a team of

Harvard researchers has concluded, after finding that condom-

distribution campaigns have not significantly reduced the spread of

the disease.

" We need a fairly dramatic shift in priorities, not just a minor

tweaking, " said Dr. Halperin, who led the research team from

the Harvard School of Public Health. The group's report in Science

magazine found that male circumcision had a dramatic effect in

curtailing the transfer of the HIV virus. But efforts to promote

condom use did not affect the spread of AIDS in Africa.

The Harvard study focused on 9 African countries where the AIDS

epidemic has been most devastating; in these countries more than 12%

of the adult population is HIV-positive.

The researchers found that programs designed to discourage sexual

promiscuity had a strong positive impact in several countries. The

most successful program was in Uganda, where a government-backed

campaign produced a reported 50% drop in the number of people

reporting multiple sexual partners. Similar programs led to a

reduction in the rate of HIV infection in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia,

Malawi, and Ivory Coast as well.

--- End forwarded message ---

[Guest guest]

Abstinence seen as key to AIDS fight in Africa

Boston, May. 9, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Efforts to curb the AIDS epidemic

in Africa should concentrate on promoting sexual restraint, a team of

Harvard researchers has concluded, after finding that condom-

distribution campaigns have not significantly reduced the spread of

the disease.

" We need a fairly dramatic shift in priorities, not just a minor

tweaking, " said Dr. Halperin, who led the research team from

the Harvard School of Public Health. The group's report in Science

magazine found that male circumcision had a dramatic effect in

curtailing the transfer of the HIV virus. But efforts to promote

condom use did not affect the spread of AIDS in Africa.

The Harvard study focused on 9 African countries where the AIDS

epidemic has been most devastating; in these countries more than 12%

of the adult population is HIV-positive.

The researchers found that programs designed to discourage sexual

promiscuity had a strong positive impact in several countries. The

most successful program was in Uganda, where a government-backed

campaign produced a reported 50% drop in the number of people

reporting multiple sexual partners. Similar programs led to a

reduction in the rate of HIV infection in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia,

Malawi, and Ivory Coast as well.

--- End forwarded message ---