Global prevention of HIV infection. Steady sexual relations mean safe protection. Use of condoms is like Russian roulette
Bendtsen, P.; Hofvander, Y.
Lakartidningen 87(47): 3975-3976
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-7205 PMID: 2263107 Document Number: 379508
As the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) spreads, information campaigns have generally emphasized the importance of stable partner relationships and the use of condoms as defenses against infection. Until recently the condom was seen by the public mainly as a contraceptive, rather than as a protection. Although knowledge about condoms is practically universal among European men, only a minority (27% in Sweden, 12% in France) use them regularly, while in Japan, over 2/3 of the men report use. In the Third World, the discrepancy is even greater; despite intensive educational campaigns in Uganda, only 22% of urban men and 11% of rural men have ever used a condom. An intact condom is an effective barrier against HIV but in surveys in several countries, around 30% of homosexual men report having experienced failures in condoms during anal sex. Data on the failure rate in vaginal sex is less consistent but seems to lie in the 1-5% range. This failure rate is low enough to have a significant effect on the incidence of transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. In Germany, for instance, a study found no HIV-positives among 448 prostitutes who used condoms in nearly 100% of intercourse. Public health educational strategy should put strong emphasis on condoms as a practical measure. Modification of high-risk behavior and stable relationships, however, are the only sure defense against HIV.