Ensayo

oWith nearly 1 million Americans infected with HIV, AIDS prevention is more important than ever before. Most HIV infection is a result of sexual transmission. That combined with an estimated 15 million cases of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occurring each year effective strategies for preventing these diseases are critical. AIDS prevention is not the only reason for condom use. STDprevention as well as AIDS prevention are important reasons for condom use. Refraining from having unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner is the best way to achieve AIDS prevention and other STD prevention. Latex condoms are highly effective when used consistently and correctly. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers the following recommendation with regard to STD and AIDSprevention:
"Condoms are effective in preventing HIV and other STDs."
Facts About Condom Use and STD, HIV, and AIDS Prevention
* The correct and consistent use of latex condoms during sexual intercourse- vaginal, anal, or oral-can greatly reduce a person’ s risk of acquiring or transmitting most STDs, including HIV infection, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, trichomonas, human papilloma virus infection(HPV), and hepatitis B.
The Link Between HIV and STDs
AIDS Prevention - The Mechanics of Safer Sex
* Protecting yourself and others against STDs is important because many of these diseases have serious complications. AIDS prevention is important because HIV is life threatening disease that can cause serious illness throughout life.
Facts About STDs
* Laboratory studies show that latexcondoms are effective barriers to HIV and other STDs. In addition, several studies provide compelling evidence that latex condoms are highly effective in AIDS prevention when used for every act of intercourse. This protection is most evident in studies of serodiscordant couples; those couples with one positive and one negative partner.
Is There a Link Between HIV & STDs
* Several studiesclearly show that condom breakage rates in this country are less than 2%. Most of the breakage and slippage likely is due to incorrect use rather than poor condom quality. Using oil-based lubricants can weaken latex, causing the condom to break. In addition, condoms can be weakened by exposure to heat or sunlight or by age, or they can be torn by teeth or fingernails. Studies also indicate thatcondoms slip off the penis in about 1-5% of acts of vaginal intercourse and slip down (but not off) about 3-13% of the time.
* The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic is a widespread disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
* Since AIDS was first recognized in 1981, it has led to the deaths of more than 25 million people, making it one of the most destructivediseases in recorded history.
* Despite recent improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, in 2007 the AIDS pandemic killed an estimated 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children.[1]As of 2009, it is estimated that there are 33.3 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, with 2.6 million new HIV infections per year and 1.8 million annual deaths dueto AIDS.[2] This has been attributed[who?] to lack of access to antiretroviral treatment in huge areas such as the continent of Africa, where (according to French researcher Olivier Schwartz), less than 10 percent of infected are reported to have access to it.[3]
* According to some researchers and institutions[4] the situation is more serious than the UNAIDS figures suggest, the epidemic isaccelerating[5] and a second wave is developing.[6]
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, or UNAIDS, is the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV epidemic.
The mission of UNAIDS is to lead, strengthen and support an expanded response to HIV and AIDS that includes preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support to those...