[killjoy]

"If we are promoting truthful public information then tell the people that using condoms is dangerous." Gamutam referenced the HIV crisis in Thailand, where widespread promotion and use of condoms has failed to curb the rise of HIV. By the end of 2003, Thailand, with a population of 63 million, registered 570,000 HIV-positive adults and children. Gamutam compared the statistic to the Philippines, where only 9,000 Filipinos were HIV-positive out of a population of 80 million. 500 died of AIDS in the Philippines that year, while 58,000 perished in Thailand. The data, said Gamutam, showed that "the condom use program in Thailand is not effective."

These numbers, and the conclusions drawn, are a complete joke. Thailand has about 10,000 new cases per year which is far from what is presented in this article. A large percentage of these cases are from other risk factors, namely drug use, not from sexual contact. Drawing the conclusion that condom use is ineffective is just dumb.

[dsc]

“These numbers, and the conclusions drawn, are a complete joke.”

Is the NIH figure of a 17% failure rate in preventing HIV transmission also a joke?

“Thailand has about 10,000 new cases per year which is far from what is presented in this article.”

Perhaps it’s just a difference in the way the word “registered” is used here. The author is not saying that there were 570,000 new cases, but that the number of HIV-positive adults and children has risen to 570,000.

“A large percentage of these cases are from other risk factors, namely drug use, not from sexual contact.”

Anal sodomy has always been the number one threat.

“Drawing the conclusion that condom use is ineffective is just dumb.”

Anywhere you look, the condom route has failed. But I guess observing reality is just dumb.

[ReignOfError]

Drawing the conclusion that condom use is ineffective is just dumb.

The statement is carefully worded: "the condom use program in Thailand is not effective." Condoms are effective in stopping the spread of HIV; getting people to use them every time, all the time, not so much.