New infections. In 2008, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its long-awaited study re-examining the size and depth of the U.S. epidemic. Using new technology that allows researchers to learn more detail about individual HIV infections, the CDC discovered, among other things:

• The U.S. epidemic is at least 40 percent larger than previously believed and growing by between 55,000 and 58,000 infections a year;

• The U.S. has never logged fewer than 50,000 new infections a year, contrary to prior belief that we leveled out at 40,000 new infections a year in the mid-1990s;

• Black Americans represented 45 percent of people newly infected in 2006, despite being just 13 percent of the population;

• Men who have sex with men accounted for 53 percent of all new infections in 2006, and young Black men were particularly hard hit.

• In 2006, Black gay and bisexual men between the ages of 13 and 29 accounted for more new HIV infections among gay and bisexual men than any other race or age group. And more than half, or 52 percent, of all Black gay and bi men infected that year were under 30 years old.

Deaths. The racial disparity in AIDS deaths continued in data released last year:

• In 2006, the latest year for which data is available, 7,426 Black Americans died from AIDS. That number represents a meaningful improvement over the previous year—a decline of 1,253 deaths.

• But Blacks continue to represent a far outsized proportion of deaths each year. In 2006, Blacks accounted for just over half of all AIDS deaths.

The 2009 State of AIDS in Black America report includes a chart pack—“The Black Epidemic: By the Numbers,” which details key data about the black epidemic.

Resources. The federal commitment to all areas of AIDS work—prevention, treatment and research—has all but disappeared.

• The CDC’s annual HIV-prevention budget has never topped $800 million—a fraction of what the U.S. spends on the Iraq war in a week;

• The prevention budget has been cut by 20 percent in the past five years, in real dollar terms;

• The CDC spent just under $369 million on Black-specific prevention and research in fiscal year 2008, or 49 percent of the overall budget.

• Between 2004 and 2008, the discretionary domestic AIDS budget remained virtually flat, while global spending increased by more than 20 percent annually.

The Promise of a New Era

While the challenges are great, Black America is perhaps better poised to meet them today than ever before.

The new Obama administration has vowed to take action on several fronts, including drafting America’s first comprehensive strategy to direct our efforts. But just as crucial, our community is engaged like never before. From individuals on up to our traditional Black organizations, we’ve accepted the idea that this is our problem and we must find the solution.

In 2006, 16 traditional Black institutions launched the National Black AIDS Mobilization by signing on to the National Call to Action and Declaration of Commitment to End the AIDS Epidemic in Black America (see BlackAIDS.org for text and list of signatories). The 16 institutions are not typical AIDS organizations. These groups, many of which have histories that span generations.

Some highlights from the State of Our Movement section of this report include:

• In 2008, two crucial groups joined the list of those that have completed strategic plans detailing how they will address HIV/AIDS: the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League;

• 100 Black Men of America partnered with Aetna to create a website that members use as a healthcare management tool focusing on HIV/AIDS as well as prostate cancer/colorectal cancer, depression, cardiovascular disease and sickle cell anemia;

• The National Council of Negro Women hosted a panel discussion at its national convention, a town hall meeting and an online survey that all resulted in a series of recommendations for the next president, including a call for a national strategy to end AIDS;

• In the fall of 2007 the National Newspaper Publishers Association began a 25-week series of HIV/AIDS opinion pieces that were published in 200 black newspapers each week;

• The Potter’s House continued its HIV work with Texas ex-offenders and expanded its AIDS work in southern Africa.

These are just a handful of the many initiatives traditional Black organizations undertook in 2008. A full accounting for each group can be found in the State of Our Movement section of this report.

Source:
BlackAIDS.org
http://blackaids.org/ShowArticle.aspx?articletype=SITEFEATURE&articleid=663&pagenumber=1

Making Change Real: Full Report
http://blackaids.org/image_uploads/article_664/.pdf

In the United States there are 19 million new sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases diagnosed each year, including 900,000 reported cases of chlamydia, 330,000 reported cases of gonorrhea, and 55,400 estimated new HIV infections per year. Notifying sexual partners of their potential exposure to an STD has been a mainstay of disease prevention and control since the 1930s. Recent evidence-based reviews concluded that partner notification is effective for identifying those at risk for STDs and HIV infection. Traditionally, partner notification has been done in person, by phone, or by mail, with the assistance of a public health investigator.

inSPOT was originally targeted to G/MSM because surveillance data showed that this population used the Internet increasingly to meet sex partners, and such partnering was associated with increases in disease transmission. In 2005 and 2006, ISIS conducted six focus groups in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Indianapolis, Indiana; and San Francisco, California with a variety of people to inform the expansion of the service for heterosexual audiences. Participants agreed that all sexually active people could benefit from this service, regardless of the gender of their sex partners. The site was subsequently updated in April 2006 for all audiences.

The site design was based on extensive input from key community advisors and on usability testing in San Francisco with repeated samples of the general population. Consequently, inSPOT is very simple. The two sections are Tell Them and Get Checked. In Tell Them, users follow this path:

1. Choose one of six e-cards
2. Type in recipients' e-mail addresses (up to six),
3. Select an STD from a pull-down menu,
4. Type in own e-mail address or send anonymously,
5. Type in an optional personal message.

When an e-card is clicked on by the recipient, users are linked to a page with disease-specific information. The Get Checked section is divided into STD information, a map of local testing sites, and links to online resources. To ensure the privacy of the user, no database to store e-mail addresses or information about e-card senders or recipients exists. Since its 2004 launch in San Francisco, inSPOT has been replicated in three countries, ten cities, and nine states.

The SFDPH bore the initial development costs of the site, estimated at US$50,000. The City and County of Los Angeles, California paid approximately US$16,000 for the first site replication, which ISIS created manually, running significantly over budget. Once interest was generated, ISIS hired an engineering firm to create a content management tool to make future replications easier, with fixed costs now set at about US$15,000, and annual maintenance fees of about US$3,000. Various local jurisdictions have additional modifications on their sites, such as banner ads (Portland, Oregon), electronic antibiotic prescriptions available to notified contacts of chlamydia or gonorrhea as expedited partner therapy (San Francisco, CA), and second languages (Ottawa, Canada).

Each jurisdiction is encouraged to market inSPOT locally using palm cards and Internet banner advertisements created by ISIS. inSPOT San Francisco relied on placement of one billboard; palm card distribution to clinics and providers and at local events; and word-of-mouth marketing among residents. New locations are added to the main inSPOT portal page (the landing page that includes links to each participating jurisdiction) in the following manner:

1. A local jurisdiction or community organization contracts with ISIS, and provides information about local testing and treatment services.
2. ISIS confirms information about local resources, testing sites, etc.
3. ISIS creates a local map of the region, finds clinic locations on the map, and parses information into regional subdivisions.
4. ISIS builds local inSPOT and provides online access to the sample site for review and approval for placement on the portal at http://www.inSPOT.org/.

To keep inSPOT e-cards out of e-mail spam filters, continuous testing and updating of the subject line of the e-card messages has been necessary. Obtaining and maintaining current clinic hours and services for each participating jurisdiction requires regular communication between ISIS and participating jurisdictions, and a regular schedule of phone calls confirming clinic information in each location every six to 12 months.

Evaluation
Number of cards sent. Over 750 people visit the inSPOT.org portal daily. Since its launch in 2004, more than 30,000 people have sent over 49,500 e-cards. While we prepared for the possibility of misuse of the site by people sending e-cards maliciously, fewer than ten recipients have reported receiving an e-card in error. The number of e-cards sent from all sites in 2006 totaled 16,983 and ranged from 280 in Portland to 9,916 in Los Angeles. In 2007, an additional two cities and three states began using inSPOT and a total of 6,622 e-cards were sent, with Idaho logging the lowest usage (45 e-cards) and Los Angeles again showing the highest usage (2,782 e-cards), albeit significantly lower than seen in the previous year. The overall average number of recipients per card was 1.6 and ranged from 1.2 to 2.0.

Pattern of Diseases
In 2006 and 2007, 23,594 e-cards were sent, 3,631 (15.4%) for gonorrhea, 3,519 (14.9%) for syphilis, 2,203 (9.3%) for HIV, 2,736 (11.6%) for chlamydia, and 11,505 (48.8%) for any “Other” STDs, including cervicitis; “crabs”; scabies; hepatitis A, B, and C; Lymphogranuloma venereum; Molluscum contagiosum; nongonococcal urethritis; Shigella; trichomoniasis; and “Unspecified”.

Although primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis accounted for 1.3% of nationally reportable STDs in 2006 (i.e., gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, excluding congenital and late latent syphilis), a much greater proportion of e-cards (9.4%) sent during that same period notified recipients about potential syphilis exposure. In contrast, chlamydia represented 73.2% of all nationally reportable STDs, and only 9.2% of e-cards were sent for that disease. This discrepancy suggests that the population of inSPOT users may be different from the US general population or that inSPOT users selectively choose for which STDs to use inSPOT's partner notification services. Additionally, awareness and education efforts about the importance of partner notification included in syphilis prevention in major US cities since the late 1990s could have influenced the overall number of syphilis e-cards sent. In particular, online partner notification became crucial when syphilis outbreaks began to be linked to online venues.

“Click-through” Rates

Finally, we analyzed rates at which e-card recipients clicked a link embedded in the card that connected to STD test site information. Annual “click-through” rates ranged from 20.4% in Los Angeles to 48.2% in Idaho, with an average across all sites of 26.8% in 2006 and 28.5% in 2007. During the period that inSPOT has been active, from December 2005 through February 2008, 29,137 people accessed STD testing information as a result of receiving an e-card. In addition, surveys of the general population and HIV providers in San Francisco indicated awareness and acceptance of the service. While inSPOT was never intended to replace traditional partner notification by public health investigators, it has emerged as a complement to those services.

“We interviewed a guy who was diagnosed with secondary syphilis. He had received an anonymous card through InSPOT informing him that he had been exposed.”

“Our patient's partner got an anonymous notification through inSPOT that he had been exposed to syphilis and contacted our patient. Our patient immediately went to the clinic website for information, got tested thru the clinic's online testing program, and came to City Clinic for treatment. The power of the Internet age…”

— Public Health Investigators in San Francisco, CA

Next Steps/Discussion

inSPOT has the potential to be a national and international resource. In countries that lack extensive technology infrastructure, people access the Web in public Internet cafes [19] and, increasingly, via their portable digital assistants and cell phones. In the US, further Web site growth has been hampered by the absence of a usable, current national database of public and private STD testing sites. ISIS is currently coordinating efforts across multiple national agencies to complete the inSPOT portal for all 50 states. inSPOT has been translated into Romanian and French and is in the process of being translated into Spanish.

While we report usage data, ISIS does not have data on the proportion of site users who ultimately access STD testing as a direct result of receiving an e-card. We also do not have specific data linking site users to STD diagnoses. Future research efforts should be directed towards comprehensive evaluation to establish the effectiveness of inSPOT in increasing STD partner notification and testing and to assess its impact on reducing disease transmission.

Source:

InSpot.org
http://www.inspot.org/gateway.aspx

inSPOT: The First Online STD Partner Notification System Using Electronic Postcards
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050213

In India, people stigmatize condoms and refuse to wear them because they believe only prostitutes must use prophylactics. Leave it to one of the world's richest men to find a solution -- the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated money for a national condom ring tone. An a cappella group sings "Condom, Condom" -- in the style of doo-wop like the contagious pop song "Barbara Ann" -- when one receives a phone call. Despite its bubblegum sound, officials hope that the people who have the condom ring tone appear smart and responsible. Since the ring tone's August launch, more than 60,000 people downloaded it. Yvonne MacPherson, country director of the BBC World Service Trust, sums it up best when she said to The Associated Press: "A ring tone is a very public thing. It's a way to show you are a condom user and you don't have any issues with it." Right, nothing attracts the amorous attention like announcing loudly that you have a condom.

2. Perks you right up

Ethiopians claim they hate condoms because the smell of latex sickens them. To combat the odor, DKT International, a United Sates nonprofit, created coffee condoms. These dark brown condoms allegedly taste and smell like the favorite coffee of Ethiopia -- the macchiato, an espresso with cream and sugar. One college student claimed the smell reminded him of the beauty of Ethiopian women. These condoms bolster national identity because Ethiopians claim to have invented coffee. DKT International also created flavored and scented condoms for Indonesia (durian fruit) and China (sweet corn).

3. Condom trees

In western Australia, the rate of HIV infection is the highest in the nation. When public health nurses were looking for an effective way to distribute condoms, someone suggested trees. Young people in the countryside hang out under trees, so the shady spots are the perfect places for nurses to hang condom-filled canisters. Over 3,000 condoms are taken each month. Residents said grabbing condoms from trees was convenient and private. Additionally, officials in Australia piloted programs where Aboriginal teens sold packets of condoms and kept half of the proceeds. Officials tout these programs as a success because STD rates have fallen, yet nurses wonder how they will convince people that they shouldn't have multiple partners. Maybe a monogamy tree is in the Outback's future.

4. Scare tactics

Perhaps some safe sex programs skirt the issue -- unprotected sex causes HIV, which leads to AIDS and often death. It's not surprising that a condom company would resort to scare tactics. The Tulipan Company launched its "Be Careful" ads in Argentina. Showing skeletons positioned in flagrante delicto, these ads make no bones about how important it is to wear a condom while engaging in coitus. No word if the skeleton ads have had the desired impact, though the graphic skeletons appear more popular than recent Trojan ads, which depict men as swine.

5. Spray-on protection

Since his teens, Jan Vinzenz Krause struggled to find a condom that fit correctly. He thought the pursuit of the perfect prophylactic was hopeless -- until he went to the carwash. Inspired by the spray-on soap and wax, the German Krause developed a spray-on latex condom, which he claims always fits perfectly and feels natural. However, many men find the design off-putting; the spray-on condom comes in a hard phallic case. Men slide themselves into the cylinder and layer on the latex, providing full coverage. The Jolly Joe, as Krause dubbed it, frightened many men during the testing phase -- they only put the case on their fingers. (Spray on gloves anyone?)Others felt the loud hissing wasn't sexy and the latex takes too long to dry -- three minutes. Krause explains to Time, "It needs to be ready in five to ten seconds." So for now, Krause is waiting for a quicker-drying latex.

Source:
CNN.com/living
Safe sex ideas that raise eyebrows
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/10/31/mf.safe.sex/index.html

http://www.mentalfloss.com/
By Meghan Holohan
Entire contents of this article copyright, Mental Floss LLC. All rights reserved.

A study published recently in PloS Medicine examines a San Francisco-based program that allows people to send electronic postcards to let sexual partners know they might have been exposed to HIV or other sexually transmitted infections, Reuters reports.

The program has expanded beyond the San Francisco area to more than 12 states (California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Wisconsin) and has been used by more than 30,000 people, who have sent almost 50,000 e-cards to their sexual partners. The report also said that the percentage of e-card recipients who click on the links differs by city. For example, almost 50% of Idaho recipients click on the links compared with 20% in Los Angeles.

The use of the e-cards "can enhance sexual communication and help with community responsibility and easing a process of disclosure that can be extremely difficult," ISIS Executive Director and co-author of the report Deb Levine said, adding that the e-cards are "one more tool in the toolkit" to reduce the spread of STIs but "do not replace in-person communication" (Norton, Reuters, 10/23).

Sources:
Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report [Oct 24, 2008]
Public Health & Education | Study Examines E-Cards Used To Alert People of Exposure to HIV, Other STIs
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=55179

InSpot.org
http://www.inspot.org/gateway.aspx

inSPOT: The First Online STD Partner Notification System Using Electronic Postcards
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050213

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama's (Ill.) campaign on Thursday during a conference call discussed the candidate's plans to combat HIV/AIDS in the U.S. Obama's plans include increasing funding for research, care and prevention and developing a national strategy within the first year of his administration.

Sandra Thurman, former director of the Office of National AIDS Policy under former President Clinton, said she "can't imagine anything more important than having a national AIDS strategy, the likes of which we have never had in the history of the epidemic for over a quarter of a century." She also noted that the Ryan White Program has been underfunded. She said, "We have an epidemic in the United States, which in many ways has not slowed down. We haven't had an increase in support and funding that's commensurate with the challenges that we're facing in communities that already have serious issues to deal with."

According to the Advocate, Obama's campaign has pledged to increase funding for the Ryan White Program, although they did not provide specific amounts. Neera Tanden, domestic policy director for Obama's campaign, said, "We want to make sure we work with Congress to come up with the right number as we go forward." She added that increased spending on a national level would help limit urban and rural areas competing for Ryan White funding. "We don't need to have this divisive strategy of pitting one area against another," she said, adding, "We should add additional funding." DeGette said that Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) has suggested enacting a "spending freeze" that could affect programs like Ryan White. "If you cut the Ryan White [Program,] you'd be cutting from a program that's already underfunded," DeGette said.

During the conference call, campaign representatives also emphasized that rather than focus on abstinence-only approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention, Obama would use a "science-based" approach to prevention. DeGette said, "With all of the billions of dollars that have been given to HIV/AIDS prevention around the world" under the Bush administration, most of that money has been given to, in the past, religious organizations that will not give condoms out. Now that just isn't going to work"

Source:
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/health2008dr.cfm?DR_ID=55073
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid63934.asp
(K. Eleveld, Advocate, 10/17).

For Immediate Release: October 15, 2008
Contact:
NCHHSTP News Media Line
404-639-8895
NATIONAL LATINO AIDS AWARENESS DAY
“United We Can: HIV/AIDS Stops Here”
Statement from the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Statement by Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director, NCHHSTP, CDC:

HIV remains a significant threat to the health of Latino communities in the United States. Latinos are becoming infected with HIV at a rate three times greater than whites; and while Latinos represent just 15 percent of the U.S. population, they make up 18 percent of those living with HIV/AIDS. Among Latinos, men who have sex with men are the most heavily affected by HIV, accounting for more than half of all new HIV infections among this population group in 2006. On this National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, we all must pledge continued commitment to address this threat against Latinos, the largest minority population in the United States.

Our nation’s response to this threat must be as diverse as the Latino HIV/AIDS epidemic itself, confronting the unique cultural and socioeconomic challenges that place Latinos at greater risk. These challenges include limited health care access, language barriers, migration, discrimination, varied socioeconomic status, stigma surrounding homosexuality and HIV, and higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases (which significantly increase HIV risk) compared to whites.

The end of this epidemic can become a reality, if everyone with a stake in this fight – individuals, communities, businesses, and governments – unites to address this devastating disease that exacts a direct toll on the Latino community.

Statement by Maria E. Alvarez, Acting Associate Director, Hispanic/Latino Executive Committee, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, NCHHSTP, CDC:

At CDC, preventing HIV among Latinos is one of our highest priorities for fighting the epidemic. We commit approximately 20 percent of our HIV prevention funding each year to support a broad range of HIV prevention programs for Latinos. We’re working to increase HIV testing rates, ensure that effective HIV prevention programs reach those who need them, and research and develop new programs to meet the specific needs of a multi-ethnic Latino community. We are also working with community leaders to develop a Hispanic/Latino plan of action to accelerate progress and significantly reduce the toll of HIV among Latinos across the country.

Every Latino can help break the cycle of HIV infection by getting tested as a first step toward prevention. CDC recommends that everyone aged 13 to 64 get tested for HIV so they can take steps to protect themselves and their partners. This is especially important for Latinos, who make up the largest share of people diagnosed with HIV late in the course of infection, when treatment is less effective.

Latinos can also help break the stigma that surrounds HIV by speaking openly and often about HIV with family and friends, and by supporting those living with the disease. Today, at events across the continental United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, thousands of people from all walks of life will come together to raise the visibility of the Latino HIV/AIDS epidemic and the urgent need for action. I hope that we will all use this day to make the theme of this year’s National Latino AIDS Awareness Day a reality – “United We Can: HIV/AIDS Stops Here.”

To find out more about HIV/AIDS and where you can receive a confidential HIV test, visit www.hivtest.org, or call 800-CDC-INFO, a 24-hour hotline available in both English and Spanish. For additional information on HIV/AIDS, please visit www.aids.gov.

More information on these data is presented in a special DHAP report, which will be available at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/hispanics/resources/reports/ct_hisp_pr_usvi/index.htm.

For more information, including a Spanish language version of this email and attached statement, fact sheets, slide sets, and other resources, please visit
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/hispanics.

Source: NPIN-Special-Announcements@cdcnpin.org
CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
Received by email October 16, 2008

Updated fact sheets, Kaiser Family Foundation: The fact sheets provide information about the impact of HIV/AIDS on blacks, Latinos and women in the U.S. Each fact sheet includes data about trends and current cases, as well as population-specific information on HIV transmission patterns and access to care (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 5/12).

• Although Black Americans represent only 12% of the U.S. population, they account for half of AIDS cases diagnosed in 2006. Blacks also account for a disproportionate share of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in states/areas with confidential name-based HIV reporting.
• The AIDS case rate per 100,000 among Black adults/adolescents was more than 9 times that of whites in 2006. The AIDS case rate for Black men (82.9) was the highest of any group, followed by Black women (40.4). By comparison, the rate among white men was 11.2.
• HIV-related deaths and HIV death rates are highest among Blacks. Blacks accounted for 56% of deaths due to HIV in 20043 and their survival time after an AIDS diagnosis is lower on average than it is for most other racial/ethnic groups.1 In 2004, Black men had the highest HIV death rate per 100,000 men aged 25–44 at 39.9; it was 5.5 for white men. The HIV death rate among Black women aged 25–44 was 23.1 compared to 1.3 for white women.
• HIV was the 4th leading cause of death for Black men and 3rd for Black women, aged 25–44, in 2004, ranking higher than for their respective counterparts in any other racial/ethnic group.

2008 Fact Sheets

Blacks & HIV/AIDS
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/6089_05.pdf

Latinos & HIV/AIDS
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/6007_05.pdf

Women & HIV/AIDS
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/6007_05.pdf

Source
Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=52095

http://posornot.com/

Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report

mtvU, MTV's college network, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, in partnership with POZ Magazine, on Wednesday unveiled "Pos or Not," an online game that aims to confront HIV/AIDS stereotypes and overcome obstacles that prevent people from talking openly about the disease, Reuters reports (Reuters, 4/30). In the game, which also seeks to break down barriers that keep people from getting tested for HIV and using protection, players must decide whether a profiled participant is HIV-positive or negative based on a photo and a few personal details. HIV-positive participants share when they first learned their HIV status, and HIV-negative participants talk about how they have been affected by the disease. The game also provides information about HIV prevention, as well as local HIV and sexually transmitted infection resources from CDC (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 4/30).

The "Pos or Not" campaign, which was inspired by a nationwide competition asking college students to create a web-based game on the topic, is supported by several celebrities, including Wyclef Jean, Fall Out Boy, Will.i.am, Alyssa Milano, Say Anything, Perez Hilton, Angels & Airwaves, Atmosphere, The Spill Canvas, 30 Seconds to Mars, Aesop Rock, Motion City Soundtrack, All Time Low and Rise Against (Reuters, 4/30). Representatives from mtvU and the Kaiser Family Foundation will be presenting "Pos or Not" at the fourth annual Games for Health Conference on May 8-9 in Baltimore (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 4/30).

Source
Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report - Thursday, May 1, 2008
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=51856

"In the United States, more than 65 million people are currently living with an incurable STD. An additional 15 million people become infected each year."
—Center for Disease Control

* It is important to note that this is not just a case of medical science diagnosing what has existed all along. These are NEW diseases, caused by sexual activity with multiple partners. Viruses continue to mutate and multiply, all the while becoming more resistant to treatment.

Statistics

* 1 in 5 Americans has been infected with an STD (American Social Health Association).

* The fastest growing population contracting AIDS is women. In 1985, 7% of AIDS cases reported were women. That percentage increased to 14% in 1992, and to 23% in 1999 (AIDS.ORG).

* Sexually active adolescent girls have the highest risk of cervical infections because the ectropion, or delicate tissue that surrounds a young woman's cervix, is not fully formed until she is 18 years old. It is, therefore, very vulnerable to blood borne infections (Alan Gutmacher Institute, 1994).

* Approximately 2/3 of all people who acquire STDs are under 25 (American Social Health Association).

* PID or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is the most rapidly increasing cause of infertility in the United States. Researchers have estimated that a sexually active 15-year-old has a 1 in 8 chance of developing PID. By the age of 24, the probability decreases to 1 in 80 (The Medical Institute).

* In the United States, more than 65 million people are currently living with an incurable STD. An additional 15 million people become infected each year (ibid).

* In 1999, reports indicated that strains of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) were present in 99% of samples tested for cervical cancer. It is estimated that 75% of sexually active Americans are or have previously been infected with HPV (The Medical Institute).

* While almost all STDs can be treated to relieve pain or minimize symptoms, there is no cure for viral STDs, including Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Herpes (ibid).

The Most Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases

There are over 30 common STDs.
http://www.carenetabq.org/stdchart.html

Prevention

Abstaining from sex is the only way to be 100 percent confident of avoiding STD infection. Prevention through avoiding exposure is the best strategy for controlling the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Proper use of condoms with each act of sexual intercourse can reduce, but not eliminate, risk of STDs.
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

Condoms provide the best (though not complete) protection against HIV and Gonorrhea. They are less effective protecting against Herpes type 2 and Chlamydia. Condoms provide little protection against bacterial vaginosis and HPV (the most common STD).
(Cates, W. Jr & Stone, K.M. (1992, March/April). Family Planning, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptive Choice: A Literature Update- Part I. Family Planning Perspectives, 24(2), 75-84)

Condoms must be used consistently and correctly each time to protect against infection.

Source:
CareNet Pregnancy Center of Albuquerque, http://www.carenetabq.org/stds.shtml

Only about half of the girls in the study acknowledged having sex. Some teens define sex as only intercourse, yet other types of intimate behavior including oral sex can spread some diseases. Among those who admitted having sex, the rate was even more disturbing — 40 percent had an STD. “Those numbers are certainly alarming,” said sex education expert Nora Gelperin, who works with a teen-written Web site called sexetc.org. “Sexuality is still a very taboo subject in our society,” she said. “Teens tell us that they can’t make decisions in the dark and that adults aren’t properly preparing them to make responsible decisions.”

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said the study shows that “the national policy of promoting abstinence-only programs is a $1.5 billion failure, and teenage girls are paying the real price.” Similar claims were made last year when the government announced the teen birth rate rose between 2005 and 2006, the first increase in 15 years. The overall STD rate among the 838 girls in the study was 26 percent, which translates to more than 3 million girls nationwide, the CDC said.

The study by CDC researcher Dr. Sara Forhan is an analysis of nationally representative data on 838 girls aged 14 to 19 who took part in a 2003-04 government health survey. Teens were tested for four infections: human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer and affected 18 percent of girls studied; chlamydia, which affected 4 percent; trichomoniasis, 2.5 percent; and genital herpes, 2 percent. Dr. John Douglas, director of the CDC’s division of STD prevention, said the results are the first to examine the combined national prevalence of common sexually transmitted diseases among adolescent girls. He said the data likely reflect current prevalence rates. HPV can cause genital warts but often has no symptoms. A vaccine targeting several HPV strains recently became available, but Douglas said it likely has not yet had much impact on HPV prevalence rates in teen girls.

Chlamydia can cause an abnormal discharge and painful urination, but often has no symptoms. Signs of trichomoniasis are similar, and both diseases can be treated with antibiotics. Genital herpes can cause blisters but also is often symptomless. It can’t be cured but medicine can help. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under age 25. It also recommends the three-dose HPV vaccine for girls aged 11-12 years, and catch-up shots for females aged 13 to 26. The CDC’s Dr. Kevin Fenton said that given the potential complications from STDs, “screening, vaccination and other prevention strategies for sexually active women are among our highest public health priorities.” Douglas said screening tests are underused in part because many teens don’t think they’re at risk, but also, some doctors mistakenly think: “Sexually transmitted diseases don’t happen to the kinds of patients I see.”

Teens need to hear the dual message that STDs can be prevented by abstinence and condoms — and hear them often, said Dr. Ellen Kruger, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. “You’ve got to hammer at them,” with appropriate information at each stage of teen development to make sure it sinks in, she said. She said there are a lot of myths out there, too — many sexually active teens think the withdrawal method will protect them, or that douching with Coca-Cola will kill STD germs. Dr. Margaret Blythe, an adolescent medicine specialist at Indiana University School of Medicine, said some doctors hesitate to discuss STDs with teen patients or offer screening because of confidentiality concerns, knowing parents would have to be told of the results. Blythe, who heads an American Academy of Pediatrics committee on adolescence, noted that the academy supports confidential teen screening.

Source:
1 in 4 teen girls has at least one STD
Virus that causes cervical cancer most common, government study finds
The Associated Press
updated 12:32 p.m. ET, Tues., March. 11, 2008

GET EDUCATED. GET TESTED. GET INVOLVED. GET TREATED.

Favorite Quote
"Let the choices you make today be choices you can live with tomorrow."

It's imperative that you know your status and GET TESTED TODAY!!

Even though African Americans represent only 13 percent of the U.S. population, look at the statistics:
* 49 percent of all new cases of HIV/AIDS in 2005.
* AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women ages 25 to 34.
* It is the second leading cause of death for African American men ages 35 to 44.
* Most African American women (74 percent) living with HIV/AIDS in 2005 were infected through heterosexual contact.
* Almost half (48 percent) of all African American men living with HIV/AIDS in 2005 are men who have had sex with men.
* Another 23 percent of men were infected through injection drug use.
* Blacks with AIDS often don’t live as long as people of other races and ethnic groups with AIDS.

If you do not know if you are infected with HIV, you could be spreading it to others. If you are HIV-positive, you must take steps to prevent passing your HIV infection to another person. If you find out that you have HIV, it does not mean that you are going to get sick and die. While there is no cure for HIV, new drugs are available that can help you stay healthy and decrease the amount of HIV virus in your body. The HIV test detects whether or not you have been exposed to the HIV virus. There are several different kinds of tests: blood tests, urine tests, and an oral (mouth) test. Only a very small amount of blood is needed for the blood tests. HIV tests can take a few days to 2 weeks for results, or with rapid HIV tests you can get results in about 20 minutes.

Where Can I Get Tested?
Free and confidential or anonymous HIV tests are available. To find an HIV testing site near you, visit www.hivtest.org. Or, call: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), TTY: 1-888-232-6348

What Else Can I Do?
You have the power to help stop the spread of HIV.
* Be safe. The best way to prevent HIV is to abstain from having sex. If you do have sex, use a new latex condom every time. Do not share needles or syringes.
* Talk about it. Talk about sex and HIV with your partners. Find out when they were last tested for HIV and what their status was. Be clear that you will be having safer sex…or none at all.
* Talk to your doctor. If you are sexually active, you should get tested for HIV at least once. Do not assume your doctor will ask you to be tested for HIV.
* Spread the word. Thousands of African Americans are getting HIV each year. Set an example by getting tested and spreading the word that others should do the same.

Source:
NATIONAL HIV TESTING MOBILIZATION CAMPAIGN
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/factsheets/docs/05-1221afams.pdf

More Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/HIV/topics/AA/resources/reports/pdf/heightenedresponse.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/HIV/topics/AA/index.htm
http://www.blackaidsday.org/pubs_reports/NASTAD2007monograph.pdf
http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/factsheets/docs/aa_fact_sheet.pdf
http://www.blackaidsday.org/pubs_reports/ATurningPoint.pdf

"The HIV/AIDS pandemic presents political, economic, public health, social and scientific challenges to nations worldwide. HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in all regions of the world, but most people living with the disease reside in low- and middle-income countries. The past few years have brought greater international attention to HIV/AIDS and funding for the disease, but the need is much greater. If more is not done to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it is on course to be one of the worst in history, with millions more people estimated to become infected by the end of this decade.

State of the Pandemic
As of the end of 2007, 33.2 million people were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, according to the latest data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO).* The estimates indicate that the global HIV/AIDS prevalence rate (the percent of people living with the disease) has leveled off, although the number of people living with the disease continues to increase. An estimated 2.5 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2007, and more than two million people died of AIDS-related causes in 2007. Women comprise half (50%) of adults estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Young people under the age of 25 are estimated to account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.

There is no single AIDS epidemic worldwide. Instead, many regions and countries are experiencing diverse epidemics, some of which remain in their early stages. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most-affected region in the world as measured by HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, followed by the Caribbean. There also is concern about the epidemic in parts of Eastern Europe and Asia.

Access to needed services remains low overall and uneven around the world. Although access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment has increased fivefold since December 2003 in low- and middle-income countries, only 28% of people living with HIV/AIDS in need of ARVs were estimated to be receiving treatment as of December 2006. This represents 2.0 million of the estimated 7.1 million people in need of antiretroviral treatment in these countries. Access to prevention services also is low, with fewer than one in five people at risk of HIV infection estimated to have access in low and middle-income countries.

Worldwide, financial resources for addressing HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries have increased notably over time, but a significant resource gap remains. UNAIDS estimates that spending on HIV/AIDS rose from US$300 million in 1996 to US$8.3 billion in 2005, and is projected to reach US$10 billion in 2007. However, current spending falls far short of what is needed to respond to the epidemic. Sustaining and increasing current efforts to meet the need remain significant challenges in the fight against HIV/AIDS."

WORLD AIDS DAY RESOURCES

KAISER DAILY HIV/AIDS REPORT: Nov 30, 2007
Global Health Advocates Warn Against Complacency in Fighting HIV/AIDS Pandemic Ahead of World AIDS Day
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=49131

Fact Sheet: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
November 2007
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/3030-103.pdf

2007 AIDS epidemic update
http://www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/2007EpiUpdate/default.asp

Facts at a Glance
GlobalHealthReporting.org
http://www.globalhealthreporting.org/diseaseinfo.asp?id=23

Rap It Up's It's Your (Sex) Life: Your Guide to Safe and Responsible Sex
An informative booklet on preventing unintended pregnancies, HIV and AIDS and other STDs. This brochure was produced by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation as a project of the Foundation and BET.
http://www.kff.org/youthhivstds/upload/BET_RapItUp_Booklet_05.pdf

Health e-Letter
Kalpana Jain, a Kaiser International Health Journalism Fellow, edits this monthly newsletter about HIV/AIDS and other public health issues in India with contributions from journalists from India and around the world.
http://www.kff.org/mediafellows/upload/fellow102007oth.pdf

*Nearly half of all respondents believed most people with HIV are receiving treatment; in fact, 2006 data show only one patient in five is being treated.

*Almost half of respondents said they felt uncomfortable walking next to someone with HIV; 52 percent would not want to live in the same house as a patient; and 79 percent said they would not want to date someone with the virus.

*HIV is spreading, in part, because women are uncomfortable discussing safe sex practices with their partners, said 73 percent of respondents.

"When people believe the disease is not fatal and that there is a cure, that's because we haven't educated them well," said Dr. Marsha Martin, director of HIV/AIDS programs in the office of the mayor of Oakland, Calif.

"The results of this survey, coupled with the recent failure of the most promising AIDS vaccine trial, underscore that we are not going to vaccinate or cure our way out of this epidemic," said Nancy Mahon, the MAC AIDS Fund's executive director. "All of us, particularly in the funding community, need to redouble our efforts and resources and focus on basic and effective HIV prevention programs that address gender, age, and race differences in a direct and culturally competent way."

Source:
GLOBAL: "Many People Don't Think AIDS Is Fatal: Survey"
Reuters Health (11.13.07):: Anthony J. Brown, MD

--Forwarded Message Attachment--
PREVENTION-NEWS Digest for Friday, November 16, 2007.
Subject: prevention-news digest: November 16, 2007
From: prevention-news@listmanager.aspensys.com
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:08 -0500

Sexual Prevention
One of the main ways HIV transmission occurs is through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Therefore, the best way to prevent being infected with the HIV virus is by practicing abstinence. This means to refrain from having sex. Having sex within a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with someone who has tested free of HIV is also considered to be safe.

Needle Risk
It is possible to contract HIV by using contaminated needles. Most commonly, this refers to needles and syringes used for intravenous drugs. However, it can also include needles used in tattooing and piercing. For intravenous drug users, the best way to prevent being infected with HIV is to quit using drugs. Failing this, though, you can reduce your risk of infection by:

Never sharing or reusing needles for drug injection. Always safely disposing of your needles or taking them to a needle exchange center. If you are getting a tattoo or a piercing, be sure that the facility you go to only uses new, sterile needles. The facility should also dispose of used needles in a safe and sanitary manner.

Blood Contact
One method of transmitting HIV is through contact with an infected person’s blood. Since the early 1980’s, all blood services and blood banks in North America have utilized rigorous screening procedures to ensure that all the blood they collect and distribute is free of the HIV virus. However, not all countries have the facilities or resources for this type of screening. If you are planning on donating blood, make sure the needles they use are new and sterile. If you are receiving blood, ask about the screening process of the blood being used in the procedure.

Health care workers are also at risk of being infected with HIV through direct contact with an infected person’s blood. People working in a health care setting should take the following precautions to lower their chances of accidental contact and infection:

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water both before and after a procedure. Always use protective barriers (i.e. latex gloves, masks) when you are in direct contact with bodily fluids including blood. If possible, always use new, single-use disposable needles and syringes for all injections. Safely dispose of this injection equipment immediately after use. Promptly disinfect any contaminated equipment that is not disposable after use. If you think you may have come into contact with an infected person’s blood, it is a good idea to go for HIV testing

HIV and Pregnancy
Because it is possible to pass the HIV virus onto your unborn child, it is highly recommended that all pregnant women, regardless of whether they display any HIV symptoms, have an HIV test done during their pregnancy. Pregnant women who are HIV positive should discuss with their health care provider about starting treatment.
Mother-to-child HIV transmission is also possible through breast milk. If you are HIV positive, discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of breastfeeding your child. You may be advised to avoid breastfeeding.

Sex with HIV
In couples where both partners are infected with HIV, there may be a feeling that it is not necessary to use condoms when having sex or to take precautions. You’re both infected with the virus, anyways, right?

Although there is some debate, there is evidence to suggest that it is possible for an individual who is already infected with HIV to be re-infected with a different strain of HIV. This can cause issues with your treatment as you could be infected with an HIV strain that is resistant to certain medications. Aside from the possible risk of re-infection, there is also an increased risk of being infected with some other type of infection, most likely another sexually transmitted disease. This includes herpes, HPV, and Hepatitis B and C. Even if you and your partner are both HIV positive, it is still important to use condoms consistently and properly every time you have sex.

Source: Epigee Women's Health,
http://www.epigee.org/health/hiv_prevention.html

What are the signs and symptoms of trichomoniasis?
Most men with trichomoniasis do not have signs or symptoms; however, some men may temporarily have an irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urination or ejaculation. Some women have signs or symptoms of infection which include a frothy, yellow-green vaginal discharge with a strong odor. The infection also may cause discomfort during intercourse and urination, as well as irritation and itching of the female genital area. In rare cases, lower abdominal pain can occur. Symptoms usually appear in women within 5 to 28 days of exposure.

What are the complications of trichomoniasis?
The genital inflammation caused by trichomoniasis can increase a woman's susceptibility to HIV infection if she is exposed to the virus. Having trichomoniasis may increase the chance that an HIV-infected woman passes HIV to her sex partner(s).

How does trichomoniasis affect a pregnant woman and her baby?
Pregnant women with trichomoniasis may have babies who are born early or with low birth weight (less than five pounds).

How is trichomoniasis diagnosed?
For both men and women, a health care provider must perform a physical examination and laboratory test to diagnose trichomoniasis. The parasite is harder to detect in men than in women. In women, a pelvic examination can reveal small red ulcerations (sores) on the vaginal wall or cervix.

What is the treatment for trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis can usually be cured with the prescription drug, metronidazole, given by mouth in a single dose. The symptoms of trichomoniasis in infected men may disappear within a few weeks without treatment. However, an infected man, even a man who has never had symptoms or whose symptoms have stopped, can continue to infect or re-infect a female partner until he has been treated. Therefore, both partners should be treated at the same time to eliminate the parasite. Persons being treated for trichomoniasis should avoid sex until they and their sex partners complete treatment and have no symptoms. Metronidazole can be used by pregnant women. Having trichomoniasis once does not protect a person from getting it again. Following successful treatment, people can still be susceptible to re-infection.

How can trichomoniasis be prevented?
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of trichomoniasis.
Any genital symptom such as discharge or burning during urination or an unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and to consult a health care provider immediately. A person diagnosed with trichomoniasis (or any other STD) should receive treatment and should notify all recent sex partners so that they can see a health care provider and be treated. This reduces the risk that the sex partners will develop complications from trichomoniasis and reduces the risk that the person with trichomoniasis will become re-infected. Sex should be stopped until the person with trichomoniasis and all of his or her recent partners complete treatment for trichomoniasis and have no symptoms.

Where can I get more information?
CDC’s STD Home Page:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/
Trichomoniasis - Topic Page
http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/default.htm
STD Information/Referrals to STD Clinics
1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)

Source:
Trichomoniasis - CDC Fact Sheet
http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/STDFact-Trichomoniasis.htm