Kenya: Contraceptives Still Help Families

[Guest guest]

Kenya: Contraceptives Still Help Families

Star Editor 6 October 2011

editorial

YESTERDAY the Star published an alarming story that taking hormonal

contraceptives doubles the chances of women contracting HIV. And doubles the

chances of infecting men with HIV. The study was published in The Lancet and was

partly conducted in East Africa.

It is not exactly clear why contraceptives like Depo Provera would increase the

risk of HIV but it may be to do with hormonal changes in body. Pregnant women

are also more likely to contract or pass on HIV.

But this increased risk factor is not a reason for women to stop using

injectable contraceptives, the most popular form of birth control in Kenya. The

strongest indicator for the health of both mother and family is well spaced

children.

The small additional risk of HIV from hormonal contraceptives is far outweighed

by the huge health benefits to the mother and social benefits to the children of

proper spacing.

But in the final analysis, the risk boils down to personal behaviour. If you

have a risky sex life, or your spouse does, you are more likely to contract HIV,

whether you are on hormonal contraceptives or not. So we should try to stick to

one partner, and, if we can't, we should use condoms.

Quote of the day: " The whole shadow of Man is only as big as his hat. " -

American poet Bishop died on October 6, 1979.

Source: http://www.nairobistar.com/

[Guest guest]

Kenya: Contraceptives Still Help Families

Star Editor 6 October 2011

editorial

YESTERDAY the Star published an alarming story that taking hormonal

contraceptives doubles the chances of women contracting HIV. And doubles the

chances of infecting men with HIV. The study was published in The Lancet and was

partly conducted in East Africa.

It is not exactly clear why contraceptives like Depo Provera would increase the

risk of HIV but it may be to do with hormonal changes in body. Pregnant women

are also more likely to contract or pass on HIV.

But this increased risk factor is not a reason for women to stop using

injectable contraceptives, the most popular form of birth control in Kenya. The

strongest indicator for the health of both mother and family is well spaced

children.

The small additional risk of HIV from hormonal contraceptives is far outweighed

by the huge health benefits to the mother and social benefits to the children of

proper spacing.

But in the final analysis, the risk boils down to personal behaviour. If you

have a risky sex life, or your spouse does, you are more likely to contract HIV,

whether you are on hormonal contraceptives or not. So we should try to stick to

one partner, and, if we can't, we should use condoms.

Quote of the day: " The whole shadow of Man is only as big as his hat. " -

American poet Bishop died on October 6, 1979.

Source: http://www.nairobistar.com/