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Hello Simie

This is an interesting question, and I admit I do not know the answer. HIV/AIDS is such a terrible problem everywhere, but Africa in particular. I found this resource that looks pretty good, but I cannot vouch for who backs it as far as political affiliations, etc.: http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-africa.htm A quote from halfway down the page states:

"Condom use and HIV

Condoms play a key role in preventing HIV infection around the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, most countries have seen an increase in condom use in recent years. In studies carried out between 2001 and 2005, eight out of eleven countries in sub-Saharan Africa reported an increase in condom use."

"The distribution of condoms to countries in sub-Saharan Africa has also increased: in 2004 the number of condoms provided to this region by donors was the equivalent of 10 for every man,8 compared to 4.6 for every man in 2001.9 In most countries, though, many more condoms are still needed. For instance, in Uganda between 120 and 150 million condoms are required annually, but less than 40 million were provided in 2005."

I also found this article from the Public Library of Science Medicine Journal: http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000006 that discusses confusion about how to legally distribute condoms in South Africa.

This is a vexing problem to be sure, and while it seems it is far away and wouldn't affect us here in the U.S., it most certainly does. International travel means disease is no longer relegated to one place, so even if we decrease HIV cases in the U.S., more cases can come here from immigrants or from our own returning citizens. In addition, the human and financial burden of so many AIDS orphans is yet to be realized.

This is a serious problem, and I am so glad you brought it to us. Thank you.

April 20, 2010 - 8:43am

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