Condoms Prevent More Than Pregnancy, HIV

避孕套在安全性行为中起到至关重要的作用,它既可避孕,又可预防艾滋病。但最近一项研究表明,它的功效远远不止如此:People who consistentlyused condoms got fewer cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia than those who usedthem only occasionally.Condoms also prevented transmission of genital herpes inmen and possibly in women,too.

Smugglers Eat Gem-Filled Condoms

选注者言:阅读增加知识。此言不假。短短一文,我们得知,斯里兰卡这个美丽的岛国盛产宝石,尤其是兰宝石和红宝石。宝石,英语称precious stone又称gem(见标题),此外,海关的英语表达是customs,而不是custom。当然,还有一个重要的动词declare,当你以后经过海关检查时,海关人员问:Do you have anythingto declare?读了此文,你就不至于发呆吧?

Community-based Survey of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Syphilis among Injection Drug Users in Sichuan Province, China

Objectives: To investigate prevalence and risk fac-tors of syphilis infection among injection drug users(IDUs) in Lianshan Yizu Autonomous Region ofSichuan province, China.Methods: From November 8th 2002 to November29th 2002, a community-based cross-sectional surveywas conducted to investigate the demographic charac-teristics and sexual behaviors of a population of IDUs.Blood samples were collected to test for syphilisinfection. A total of 379 subjects were recruitedfor the study through community outreach and peerrecruiting methods.Results: Of 379 IDUs, the syphilis prevalence amongIDUs was 15.3% (58/379). Gender, years of education,history of unprotected sex with non-steady sex part-ner in the last month, number of sex partners in thelast 6 months, frequency of sex with non-steady sexpartner in the last 6 months, and number of any newsex partner(s) in the last 6 months were associatedwith syphilis infection after univariate analysis usingthe chi-squared test. Multivariate logistic regressionanalysis showed that ethnicity (OR, 2.85; 95% CI,1.55-5.25), marriage (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.04-3.62)and receiving money for sex in the last 6 months (OR, ,5.60; 95% CI, 2.65-11.85) were significantly associ-ated with syphilis infection among IDUs.Conclusions: This study found that receiving moneyfor sex in the last 6 months was significantly associ-ated with syphilis prevalence among IDUs. It isrecommended that further health education andintervention campaigns be focused on IDUs to promotesafe sexual practices.

High-risk Sexual Behavior among HIV-positive Former Commercial Blood Donors in Rural Eastern and Central China

Objective： To investigate high-risk sexual behavior among HIV-positive former commercial blood donors in rural central and eastern China. Methods： From December 2003 to May 2004, a crosssectional study was conducted to investigate demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, condom use, and knownHIV status among HIV-positive commercial blood donors.A total of 796 subjects were recruited for the study. Results： Of the 796 study subjects, 53.0% （258/487） did not use condoms, 10.9% （53/487） inconsistently usedcondoms, and 36.1% （176/487） consistently used condoms with a steady sex partner in the past threemonths. Age （OR, 0.57; 95% CI： 0.39, 0.82）, years of education （OR, 1.90; 95% Ch 1.27, 2.84） and known HIVstatus （OR, 1.66; 95% CI： 1.12, 2.45） were independently and positively associated with condom use with a steady sex partner. Of those subjects without a steady sexual partner in the past year, 63.6% （14/22） did not use condoms, 9.1% （2/22） inconsistently used condoms, and 27.3% （6/22） consistently used condoms. Conclusion： HIV counseling and education should be focused on HIV-positive blood donors to prevent a secondary spread of HIV through unsafe sexual practices.

Condom Use in Commercial Sex Workers and Clients Among Incarcerated Sexworkers and STD Clinic Attendees in Jinan, Shandong Province

Background: Commercial sex workers and clientsare important core populations in the transmission ofsexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human im-munodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Research on thefrequency and determinants of condom use in com-mercial sex workers and their clients is important inincreasing condom use and reduction of the STD/HIV.Burden. Objectives: To establish the frequency of and fac-tors related to intention to use condoms and actualcondom use in commercial sex contacts and to deter-mine the differences in condom use between sex work-ers and clients.Methods: Incarcerated commercial sex workers(ICSW) and male STD clinic attendees were recruitedinto a cross-sectional study to obtain data on the fre-quency and factors associated with intention to usecondoms and condom use in commercial sexual con-tacts with an interviewer-administered questionnaire.Consistent condom use in ICSWs and never usingcondoms in male STD clinic attendees were analyzedusing univariate and multivariate logistic regressionmodels. Results: The frequency of reported consistent in-tention to use condoms and reported actual condomuse was 62% and 50.6%, respectively among 158ICSWs. For male STD clinic attendees, the propor-tion of reported consistent intention to use condomsand reported actual condom use was 10% and 20.7%,respectively. The factors positively influencing theconsistent intention to use condoms were pregnancypreventing measures and the belief of condom efficacyin the prevention of STD/HIV, whereas the factor as-sociated with actually consistent condom use was preg-nancy-preventing measure in ICSWs. Factors associ-ated with no intention to use condoms were low income,low STD/HIV knowledge level and the frequency ofvisiting CSW. The latter factor was also associatedwith never using condoms in male STD clinicattendees. Conclusions: Consistent condom use during com-mercial sex contacts was low, especially in clients.Greater effort is needed in condom promotion programin order to raise the level of condom use in commer-cial sex contacts.

Risk Factors of Condom Use among Clients of Commercial Sex Workers in Saunas and Beauty Parlors in China

Objectives: To describe and analyze risk factors associatedwith disuse of condoms during commercial sexual intercourseamong clients attending sauna and massage centers. Methods: Selected female sex workers from saunas andbeauty parlors were trained as interviewers. They surveyedclients during provision of sexual services. Informationcollected included customers' demographics, knowledge ofSTDs, rationale for and history of condom use. Risk factorsfor condom usage were assessed though logistical modeling.Results: A total of 50 clients were interviewed. The rates ofcondom usage for last sexual intercourse with commercial andnon-commercial partners were 57% and 53% for clients ofsauna centers and 30% and 40% for clients of beauty parlors,respectively. The choice to use a condom was influenced byclients 60.8% of the time, sex workers 30.4%, and otherfactors 8.8%. The choice against using a condom was decidedupon by clients 69.7% of the time, sex workers 9.1%, andother factors 21.2%. Multivariate analysis showed thateducational level and perception of risk of infection werefactors for condom use. Clients with a high school educationhad a higher condom use rate than those with a middle schooleducation or less. Furthermore, clients who perceived risk ofdisease used condoms more frequently than those who did not.Conclusions: Clients played a significant role in decidingwhether or not to use a condom during commercial sex. Lackof perception of risk is a major factor for not using condoms.A program for promotion of prophylactics targeting bothcommercial sex workers and their clients is recommended.

Global epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases （STDs） are among the first ten causes of unpleasant diseases in young adult males in developing countries and the second major cause of unpleasant diseases in young adult women. Adolescents and young adults （15-24 years old） make up only 25% of the sexually active population, but represent almost 50% of all new acquired STDs. In general, STDs are epidemics and present an enormous health and economic consequences. An adequate screening for STDs should be done on a routine basis in every part of the world. Many STDs are asymptomatic and therefore can difficult to control. The purpose of reporting of STDs is to ensure that persons who are infected will be quickly diagnosed and appropriately treated to control the spread of infection and also so that partners are notified, tested and appropriately treated. It is estimated that reported cases of STDs represent only 50%-80% of reportable STD infections in the United States, reflecting limited screening and low disease reporting. High-risk sexual behavior is a highly contributive factor of this process as it often leads to teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS. One possible explanation for this behavior is that people do not have enough information about the transmission of STDs or ignore the precautions required for safe sex. Approximately 60% of new HIV infections worldwide occur in young people. The frequency of high-risk behaviors among youths may also be influenced by opportunity to engage in them, particularly the amount of time that they are unsupervised by adults. However, in diagnosing and treating these patients, we can effectively prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Individuals infected with STDs are 5-10 times more likely than uninfected individuals to acquire or transmit HIV through sexual contact. The breaking of the genital tract lining or skin creates a portal of entry for HIV and, hence, HIV-infected individuals with other STDs are more likely to shed HIV in their genital secretions. To date, the condom is the most effective method available for males for protection against STDs. It is important to control STDs, and prevention can be the key of this process. Prevention can be achieved through education of the population, identification of symptomatic and asymptomatic people, and effective diagnosis and treatment of these patients and their partners.

An Intervention Study of Reproductive Tract Infections among Married Women of Reproductive Age in Shanghai

Objective To evaluate the impacts of reproductive tract infections （RTIs） intervention on RTIs-related knowledge, attitudes, practices and prevalence of married women at reproductive age. Methods Four sub-districts from Xuhui district, Shanghai were selected by multistage cluster random sampling and residence committees were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control one. RTIs intervention was implemented in intervention group, while routine family planning program was conducted in control group. Results Compared with control group, intervention group have improved the following targets： the increment of RTI knowledge score was higher than that in control group （OR=9. 22, 95%CI： 7.01 - 2.14）; the increment score of individual health behaviors （6. 31） was higher than that in control group （4.50） （OR=1.60, 95%CI： 1.21 -2.10）; the increase of condom use frequency in intervention group was higher than that in control group （4.12% vs 0.69%） （OR=1.84, 95%CI： 1.31-2.57）; the decreased RTIs rate was higher than that in control group （7.45% vs 0.96%） （OR=0.68, 95%CI： 0.49-0.95）. Conclusion It is an effective way to conduct community-based intervention to increase women＇s RTIs knowledge, improve RTIs-related attitudes, promote good individual health behaviors, so as to decrease RTIs prevalence.

Son Preference and Family Planning Practices among Married Men in Mumbai, India

ve To study son preferences and the contraceptive knowledge, attitude and practices of Indian Male

AIDS-related Knowledge,Condom Usage Among Medical Postgraduates

Objective To investigate the knowledge about safety/unsafty of sexual acts relating to HIV transmission, levels of embarrassment related to condom and condom usage among medical postgraduates. Methods From August to December, 1998, a self-administered anonymous questionnaire was given to 271 new medical postgraduates from two medical colleges of Beijing and Hebei Province. Results There was a hazy understanding of the protective function of condom from AIDS among medical postgraduates. Only 14.4% medical postgraduates persisted in using condom, and 27.94% had never or almost never used it. The levels of embarrassment about condom were high. The median score was 3.55+0.98. Whether to use condom was related with the attitudes to condom, but not to AIDS. Conclusion There was some misunderstanding about condom and inconsistent condom usage in medical postgraduates. So it is essential to strengthen the sexual health education among them.

Condom-Assisted Transurethral Resection: A New Surgical Technique for Urethral Tumor

Backgrounds: It is difficult to develop clear endoscopic field during transurethral resection (TUR) of urethral tumors, because irrigation water easily spills out from the meatus. We have devised a surgical technique to facilitate TUR of urothelial tumors. Methods: A 79-year old man developed urethral tumors in the anterior urethra and fossa navicularis 6 months after TUR of bladder tumor. We covered his penis and the resectoscope with a tip-cut condom. The tip-end of condom and the resectoscope sheath was tightly sealed and irrigation water was filled inside the condom. Results: The urethral tumors were successfully resected under a clear vision by filling irrigation water inside a tip-cut condom that covered over the resectoscope and the penis. Conclusion: This technique may be useful for TUR of anterior urethral tumors, especially tumors at fossa navicularis, which is often associated with difficulty in obtaining clear surgical vision.

Receptive Anal Intercourse and HIV Infection

Objective: Inform the public that receptive anal intercourse (RAI) is a key transmission route of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States. Method: The role of receptive anal intercourse (RAI) in this epidemic will be examined using the following approach: 1) Risk comparison of HIV transmission via RAI to the other major routes of transmission. 2) HIV transmission risks of RAI using some of the present risk reduction techniques. 3) HIV infection via anal intercourse among male youth. 4) HIV infection via anal intercourse among women. Results: Of the major transmission routes of HIV, receptive anal intercourse has the highest transmission risk for acquiring HIV infection. RAI is 2 times the risk of needle-sharing during injection drug use (IDU) and 17 times the risk of receptive vaginal intercourse. The estimated per act probability of acquiring HIV from an infected source by the exposure route of RAI is high in most circumstances: 1) Condoms alone only partially reduce the high risk of RAI. With the addition of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the risk is further reduced. 2) When one or both partners are infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), even with condom use, the risks are very high. With the addition of PrEP the risks are reduced, but RAI still carries significant risks. 3) With exposure to acute HIV (high viral load) the risks of RAI are very high and remain significant even with condom use and PrEP. Anal intercourse often begins in adolescence;both genders are at risk. Conclusion: Public knowledge of the high transmission risks of receptive anal intercourse may likely result in a downward trend of new HIV infections and contribute to ending the epidemic.

AIDS-Related High-Risk Behaviors and Affecting Factors of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in China's Mainland

Objectives: To describe and analyze HIV/AIDS/STD-related high risk behaviors and affecting factors of men who have sex with men (MSM) in China's Mainland~ Methods: 426 self-administered or interview-based questionnaires collected from MSM were analyzed with SPSS or SAS Systems. Results: Of the MSM, four-fifths had engaged in oral-genital intercourse, about half had engaged in anal intercourse, and in the past year more than two-fifths had casual sexual partner(s).Very few maintained monogamous sexual relationships, and nearly half also had intercourse with women. One fourth had previously been diagnosed with a venereal diseases. One HIV+individual was found among the 40 who reported having been tested for HIV. Only two men consistently used condoms among the one-third who had ever used condoms, despite almost universal knowledge of HIV and its transmission. Conclusions: MSM in China's Mainland are very sexually active, highlighting the possibility of a serious HIV epidemic that may be directly spread to the female population. However,AIDS interventions targeting MSM face severe obstructions resulting from cultural bias and other factors.

Power Relation and Condom Use in Commercial Sex Behaviors

To explore whether condom use is influenced by power relation in commercial sex behaviors. Methods Variables were designed to measure the power relation in commercial sex behaviors based on the theory of gender and power relation and data were collected from male sexually transmitted diseases （STD） patients and female commercial sex workers （FSWs） working at recreation centers or being detained in a women education center to identify the relationship between condom use and power relation in male and female respondents using bivariate and multiple regression analysis. Results A significant relationship was identified between power relation and female condom use, the higher the score of power relations, the higher frequency the condom use, but no similar result was found in males. Females got a higher score of power relation than males. Conclusions Power relation is one of the factors that influence condom use, which should be considered when relevant theories are used to study the rate of condom use. It is worthwhile exploring the relationship between safe sex and power relation in spouses and regular sex partners when interventions are adopted to prevent HIV/AIDS spreading from high risk groups to the general population.

Study on Perception of Potential Condom Use among Unmarried Migrants

Objective To understand the perception of potential condom use and its influencing factors so as to promote condom use among unmarried migrantsMethod A survey, using self-administered structured anonymous questionnaire, was conducted among 1 092 unmarried migrants aged 15～24 years old in urban area of Shanghai. Results The unmarried migrants had some knowledge of condom. However, their knowledge level and their attitude towards condom use were not so optimistic. Subjects' knowledge of contraceptives and STD/AIDS had a positive influence on their attitude toward condom use. Subjects with positive attitude to condom use were more likely to use condom in sexual activity (OR=1.61). Conclusion Unmarried migrants have lower rate of condom use if they have insufficient knowledge of condom. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the sexual health education among unmarried sex-active migrants in order to encourage contraceptive use, especially condom use.

An IEC Programme on the Promotion of Condom Use To Prevent AIDS

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Evaluation on the Effectiveness and Feasibility of Integrating STI/HIV Counseling with Existing Family Planning Service in Shanghai

Objective To assess the impact of pamphlet distribution and counseling on STI/HIV/condom knowledge, attitudes towards STI/AIDS patients and condom use intention of married couples in Shanghai and explore the effective way of integrating STI/HIV prevention with family planning services. Methods Four hundred and five married women aged 20~39 and their husbands were recruited from 14 family planning stations at 7 administrative districts of Shanghai. They were randomly divided into two groups, the counseling intervention (CI) group with 199 couples and the pamphlet distribution (PD) group with 206 couples. For the PD group, only pamphlets containing information on STI/AIDS/ condom were distributed and condoms given free of charge, whereas for the CI group, they were provided with not only full counseling on STI/AIDS/condom and free condoms, but also followed by demonstration of correct condom use. The two modes of interventions were conducted following the baseline survey, and the follow up data were collected one month later. Results 1. There was no statistical difference between the two groups on STI/AIDS/condom knowledge level, attitudes towards STI/AIDS patients and condom use intention at the baseline. 2. The follow up findings indicated that: ① A significant enhancement in knowledge level was observed in the CI group, with 20% increase for husbands and 24% for wives. While for the PD group, only slight increase was observed: 2% for husbands and 3% for wives; ② 93% husbands and 76% wives of the CI group changed their discriminatory attitudes towards STI patients, and towards AIDS patients, the percentages were 73% and 78%, respectively; ③ 68% husbands and 64% wives of the CI group expressed their intention for condom use; ④ For the PD group, however, there was no difference in attitudes towards STI/AIDS patients and condom use intention at the baseline and follow up. 3. The knowledge scores and attitudes towards STI/AIDS patients were mainly influenced by the means of intervention. While the intention of condom use was influenced not only by means of intervention but also by condom availability. Conclusions 1. Good counseling can not only greatly enhance people's STI/AIDS/ condom knowledge level but also apparently change their discrminatory attitudes towards STI/AIDS patients; 2. Effective counseling and condom availability are two important factors that influence condom use intention; 3. It is effective and feasible to integrate counseling with the routine procedure of family planning services, hence is worth being scaled up in Shanghai or even nationwide.

Evaluation of Condom Use among University Undergraduates in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Barrier contraception has the beauty of dual protection—against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Following the persisting burden of unsafe abortion and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), much sensitization/campaign has been ongoing in the past few decades by government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Nigeria against unprotected sexual intercourse. The youth are generally assumed to have high risk sexual behaviour, hence this study on Port Harcourt university undergraduates. Objectives: To determine the awareness and use of condom among University undergraduates in Port Harcourt. Methods: The study was a prospective descriptive cross-sectional study of 636 undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt and Rivers state University, South-south Nigeria. The multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select participants and data collected using a pretested structured self administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using version 23.0 SPSS and reported in means, frequencies and percentages. Probability value was set at 5% (p χ2 = 200.602). Only 5.5% of the respondents in this study were willing to know their HIV status. Conclusion: There is a high level of condom awareness among Port Harcourt University undergraduates. Surprisingly, their practice of unprotected sexual intercourse is still high.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HIV/AIDS of Sudanese and Bantu Somali immigrant women living in Omaha, Nebraska

A needs assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs about HIV/AIDS prevention was conducted among 100 Sudanese and Bantu Somali women immigrants aged 19 years and older, recruited through a community organization between April and July 2006. Information was collected by interview using interpreters to administer a 60-item test and a 116-item questionnaire that had been translated into Nuer and Arabic. Women in this study had low levels of education, poor knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention and safer sex practices, and poor attitudes to HIV/AIDS. They believe that HIV/AIDS is a punishment from God, HIV-positive people should be separated from society, carrying a condom indicates having loose morals, women should not experience sexual pleasure, and men should decide when and how to have sexual intercourse. Education, gender, and cultural beliefs are critical in the spread of HIV. Efforts to educate immigrant and displaced populations, particularly women, are essential.

Cross-sectional study on AIDS knowledge and condom use in rural areas

Objective:To understand AIDS knowledge and condom use in rural areas,and to analyze theinfluencing factors of condom use.Methods:This is a cross-sectional study using the cluster-sampling method.4,800 subjects,randomly selected from six counties in China,were questioned using an anonymous survey.Results:36% of the subjects knew that tooth extraction could transmit AIDS.38.4% of thesubjects knew that the use of public razors could transmit AIDS.27.1% of the subjects had useda condom in the last year.The influencing factors of condom use were:sex(OR=1.325),age(OR=1.419),AIDS counseling(OR=2.181),educational level(OR=0.622),location of regis-tered permanent residence(OR=0.732),AIDS knowledge score(OR=0.736),and resident ofhigh AIDS prevalent province(OR=0.354).Conclusion:AIDS knowledge in rural areas is still lacking.The rate of condom use was verylow.The main influencing factors of low condom use were being female,elderly,and no AIDScounseling.Higher educational level,registered permanent resident in town,high AIDS knowl-edge score,and resident of high AIDS prevalent provinces were the propitious factors for condomuse.