Multiple partnerships fueling AIDS epidemic (Captain Obvious Alert!)

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | 8/15/2006

[markomalley]

In Swaziland they are called "lishendes" -- multiple concurrent sexual partners -- and they are the driving factor behind the HIV epidemic in southern Africa, said researchers on Monday at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto.

Instead of casual sexual encounters with multiple partners, established partnerships outside of marriage are fueling a generalized epidemic in southern African countries. These partnerships often involve inconsistent condom use and occur in the context of low rates of male circumcision.

At the conference in a presentation titled "Prevention Works: What's The Evidence," researchers put forward evidence for various HIV prevention programs aimed at increasing education, reducing stigma and changing behavior.

"In southern Africa and a country like Swaziland we're talking about a very generalized epidemic," said Dr. Daniel Halperin of the US Agency for International Development's Southern Africa HIV-AIDS Program in Mbabane, Swaziland.

Halperin described the HIV infection rate in Swaziland as "astonishingly high." The prevalence rate for the general adult population was 33.4 percent in 2005. Multiple concurrent sexual partnerships are a main driver of the generalized epidemic in Swaziland, Dr. Halperin said. These partnerships are not casual sexual encounters or polygamy, but are instead longer-term relationships outside of marriage.

"Data worldwide consistently shows that people with a higher number of partners have a higher prevalence of HIV," Halperin said. Partner reduction can be one important element of HIV prevention, but it's not the only factor to consider.

[markomalley]

"Data worldwide consistently shows that people with a higher number of partners have a higher prevalence of HIV,"

No kidding. It goes to show, there is one way to reliably prevent AIDS. It is 99.5%+ effective and costs nothing. But they're (the "experts") are seemingly unwilling to admit it.

[Mr. Brightside]

[shiva]

"Data worldwide consistently shows that people with a higher number of partners have a higher prevalence of HIV

Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

[shiva]

LOL!! You beat me by a few seconds....Great minds think alike

[ClearCase_guy]

The impression I get from the media is that lung cancer is a self-inflicted disease. People engage in risky behavior -- they smoke. This makes them sick and they die. Now, the media is very much in favor of the government exerting its power to reduce the incidence of smoking in our society. Smokers pay extra taxes, they have to sit outside at some restaurants, etc. etc.

Seems to me that AIDS is a self-inflicted disease. People engage in risky behavior. They get sick and they die.

When will government exert its power to reduce the incidence of homosexual behavior in our society?

[Always Right]

"Data worldwide consistently shows that people with a higher number of partners have a higher prevalence of HIV," Halperin said. Partner reduction can be one important element of HIV prevention, but it's not the only factor to consider.

In other news, a study found that people who take more drugs are more likely to overdose.

[MooseMan]

"Data worldwide consistently shows that people with a higher number of partners have a higher prevalence of HIV,"

Pretty soon, you'll be telling me that alcohol has something to do with alcoholism...

[little jeremiah]

Two-fer?

[little jeremiah]

Check this drugged idiot's comments. He needs the hook ASAP.