Thursday, October 26,1995
AIDS
The nineties, supposedly, signify the
age of enlightenment; a time when
education is stressed as being the major
weapon in a number of social problems.
From drugs to violence, society faces
numerous dilemmas.
Obviously, there is not enough space in
a newspaper or a twenty minute news
program to cover all aspects of America's
problems. Yet, there seems to be a
growing concern that safe sex needs to be
addressed.
Of all the social issues that plague
America, it seems as if AIDS has taken a
back seat to street violence and unwanted
pregnancy. Condoms appear to be used as
a method of preventing children rather than
protection against AIDS.
Has the thought of AIDS faded from the
public minds and fallen into the category
of "it can't happen to me?”
Lou Ann Walker, author of "Dangerous
Liaisons" in the 1995 September issue of
"New Woman" states, "Bravado makes
many young people think they're immune.
Older people think they are because it's a
disease of the young and more sexually
active. Some heterosexuals still assume
it’s a homosexual disease." (97)
In the 1995 October issue of "Details",
author John Weir stated, "[Fjourteen years
into the epidemic-at least twelve years
since doctors figured out how the AIDS
virus is transmitted-people are still
spreading the disease."
While the number of reported cases of
AIDS has fallen nationwide since 1993,
HIV infection transmitted by men having
sex with men is, after a period of decline,
back on the rise.
Moreover such cases among men
thirteen and older are increasing
everywhere except in the Northeast,
especially in the South and Midwest, and
especially among African-Americans and
Latinos.
While newly diagnosed AIDS cases have
dropped among white homosexual men,
they have increased in every other ethnic
group. And though new infections are
down for older gay men, they are rising
among younger ones. (Weir, 139)
Condoms:
the good and the bad
Most reliable: x \
(performance In an air-burst test) \
Excita Extra Ultra-Ribbed,
with spermicide
Ramses, Extra Ribbed
with spermicide
Sheik Elite 1
Lifestyles Vibra-ribbed
Ramses Extra, with spermicide
• Ramses Sensitol
Sheik Elite, Ribbed
with spermicide
Least reliable:
Lifestyles Ultrasensitive
Trojan Extra Strength
Trojan Mentor
Trojan Plus
Trojan Very Thin
Trojan-Enr
Correct use of a Condom
Based on a fact sheet from The Sex Information and Education
Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) and was printed in the 1995
September of "New Woman”
1. Use a new condom each time you have oral, anal or vaginal sex. Use nonlubricated
for oral sex and spermicidal for vaginal sex.
2. Put the condom onto the penis after it is erect, but before it touches any part of a
partner's mouth, anus, or vagina. Uncircumcised penises must have the foreskin pulled
back before the condom is pulled on.
3. Pinch the reservoir tip, then unroll it up the shaft of the penis, from head to base.
You must have air at the tip to keep the condom from breaking.
4. Apply a water-based lubricant, such as K-Y jelly, to keep the condom from
breaking. Never use oil-based products such as baby oil or hand lotion. Also avoid
yeast medications, which contain mineral oil. These substances cause a 90-percent drop
in condom strength.
S. If the condom breaks during sex, the penis must be withdrawn immediately and a
new condom used.
6. While the penis is still erect, after ejaculation and before withdrawal, the rim of the
condom must be grasped around the penis, and the penis and condom should be removed
slowly and carefully so that no semen is spilled.
7. Store condoms in a cool, dry place such as a drawer or closet.
Neva* use a condom that is broken, sticky, or discolored.
It is a disillusion to believe that AIDS
is no longer a problem. The fact remains
that AIDS is not dead. There is still not a
cure. The "new AIDS drug" AZT helps to
prolong life, but it is not a cure-all. Ten
years after America has opened its eyes to
a problem running rampant in all
communities of its streets, the problem
has not gone away. In many instances and
circumstances, AIDS has been on the
increase.
According to studies that determine an
adolescent's knowledge of AIDS and
modes of HIV transmission, the
educational system needs much work
(Hingson and Strumin, 27-28).
The use of alcohol and drugs also have a
relevant impact on the decision to either
abstain from intercourse or engage in
intercourse with a condom.
Most do not even discuss the use of a
condom before having sex.
"While most adolescents report that they
would use condoms if ask'd, only
minority reported discussing condoms
Features
s not d
prior to intercourse," according to Hingson
and Strumin.
Some say that if adolescents were made
aware that others are using condoms, they
may do so.
"It should be pointed out to adolescents
that very few of their peers would object
to using condoms [and] that [an]
increasing number are using them."
The article states that some may not be
using condoms because of what others
may say. In fact, "Adolescents may fear
that condom use will raise questions from
partners about fidelity and about whether
they expect and plan to have sex and do
not have strict moral values; it also may
raise question about whether partners will
think that they are infected with HIV or
other STDs already."
Some say to remedy the situation
society must educate. "Education must
stress that even adolescents who are
monogamous now may have been exposed
to the HIV virus through earlier sexual
contact and that sex can be more relaxed
Written and compiled by:
R. Carl Campbell 111
with Jen Colvin
Extra special thanks (as
always) to Sue Daley
VANESSA WAS IN A FATAL CAR
ACCIDENT LAST NIGHT.
ONLY SHE DOESN’T KNOW IT YET.
Every year, thousands of young people die
in car accidents caused by drugs and
alcohol. But now you can wreck your life
without hitting the gas pedal. The number of
reported AIDS cases among teenagers has
increased by 96 percent in the last two
years. If you get high and forget, even for a
moment, how risky sex can be, you’re
putting your life on the line.
ead
and result in less anxiety if condoms are
used." (H&S, 30-31)
Recent studies have given the media the
impression that there is a new increase in
AIDS outbreaks.
According to Weir's article, there is an
increasing risk group-men in their mid
twenties that has been alerting people to a
"so-called second wave of HIV-infection.”
Weir states, "...that people who were in
grammar school and high school in the
mid-80's are now testing positive for HIV
in numbers not much lower than ten years
ago."
"[AJccording to recent statistics from the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention," Weir continues. "AIDS is
now the leading cause of death among
everyone-men and women, straight and
gay-ages twenty-five to forty-four."
Although, men in their mid-twenties are
in a risk group, the overall percentage of
HIV infection is rising much faster in
women than in men.
According to statistics from the Centers
for Disease Control, 18 percent of the
reported AIDS cases in the United States
were women, nearly three times the
proportion who had the disease ten years
earlier (Svingen).
Walker states, "About 58,000 women
have been reported with AIDS in this
country since, 1981, and at least an
additional 110,000 are thought to be
infected with HIV.
Walker cites studies by an Advanced
Data Report released in 1993 by the
National Center for Health Statistics:
Only 14 percent of all unmarried,
heterosexual, sexually active women are
faithful in their use of condoms. (94)
By not using a condom, women put
themselves at risk for more than just
pregnancy.
The number of heterosexuality acquired
AIDS cases continues to grow. Women
are at least two times more likely than
men to contract AIDS because seminal
fluid remains within a woman for a long
time, exposing them to the virus - the
exposed area in the vagina is larger than
that of a penis. (94)
AIDS is not a discriminatory disease. It
affects everyone, from the person carrying
the disease to the friends and relatives who
help them cope. AIDS is still prevalent,
it must not be forgotten. It's a large
shadow looming over everyone, not caring
about preventing pregnancies, just looking
to feast on its next victim.
% ■■*=»• ..asr k
$ Works Cited %
% V
k* Diclcmente, Ralph J. ed. Adolescents and -S
%.Aids. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, 1|
% 1992 W
k/ -Hingson, Ralph and Strunin, Lee. ,4
* "Monitoring Adolescents' Response to the % y
k AIDS Epidemic: Changes in Knowledge,
' Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors."
% , %
k Svingen, Kristen. "Women Take Many -J
-3 HIV Risks." Knight-Ridder Newspapers,
Tallahassee. 1995 Distributed by Tribune k
Media Services . 4
* %
k'Weir, John. "Blood Simple." Details \
3 October 1995 ppl36-191 11
\
k Walker, Lou Ann. ’’Dangerous Liaisons.’ |
3 New Woman September 1995 pp 92-139 *
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