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New Research Confirms Condoms Not Effective in HIV Prevention

Experts say availability of condoms statistically increases promiscuity and risk of contracting HIV

WASHINGTON, January 14, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Culture of Life website (http://www.colfi.org) reported today on troubling statistics regarding condom use and associated increased HIV transmission rates. The "safe sex" message, as promulgated and promoted by groups such as the UN and Planned Parenthood, is still the message of choice being delivered to sub-Saharan Africans. This, despite the fact that the availability of condoms statistically increases promiscuity and risk of contracting HIV according to medical experts who presented their findings on the HIV Pandemic in Washington, DC last week.

Dr. Norman Hearst of the University of California - San Francisco revealed statistics on Kenya, Botswana, and other countries, which show an increasingly alarming pattern of increased condom sale correlation with rising HIV prevalence by year. Unfortunately, Hearst stated, we are "raising a generation of young people in Africa that believe that condoms will prevent HIV." This is concerning because condoms are not 100% effective, even when used properly. According to Hearst, "the most recent Met-analysis came up with 80%, but even if it is 90%, over time it's the question of when, not if."

Dr. Rand Stoneburner (formerly of the WHO and an independent advisor to United Nations AIDS agency, USAID), talked about the famous Ugandan case, where "declines of HIV in Uganda are linked to behaviour change [and] include primary risk avoidance with a 65% decline in causal sex." The Ugandan government, which promoted abstinence and faithfulness, helped bring about a 75% decline in HIV prevalence among 15-19 age group, 60% in the 20-24, and a 54% decline overall by 1998.

Many, including U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, have praised Uganda's success in cutting the HIV infection rate by 50 percent since 1992. CNN reported in 2000 that the country is "widely seen as one of the most successful in fighting AIDS."

Aside from AIDS, condoms are also known to provide even less protection from a variety of other sexually transmitted diseases.

Read similar coverage of the Ugandan success story at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jan/03010704.html

Also read the United Nations report which admits condoms fail to protect against AIDS 10% of the time at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jun/03062303.html

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