HOW TO KEEP HIV AT BAY

Intensive prevention and education initiatives are the best way to keep HIV/AIDS "at bay". The problem with global efforts to prevent new HIV infections is that the education initiatives must be adaptable to the beliefs and customs of each individual culture and group of people; what works in one part of the world will be useless in another. A "canned approach" such as handing out free condoms to people will not work.

Condoms will only prevent disease if people use them. People will only use the condoms if they truly understand and believe that sexual contact without the protection of a condom will spread the HIV virus. In some parts of the world, people remain ignorant to the facts of science and refuse to believe that AIDS is caused by a virus. Many myths persist as to the cause of AIDS, and until these are dispelled we will continue to see an increase in the number of new infections worldwide. Education and prevention messages must be culturally based and individualized. In the under-developed parts of the world HIV/AIDS is growing at an alarming rate. Much needs to be done as far as prevention work goes, in addition to finding a way to fund the cost of treatment for those who do become infected.

Even in the developed world, where we have the benefits of advanced science, medical technology, and effective medical treatment, we still have a lot of work to do. People continue to engage in risky sexual behavior, and there are new infections diagnosed every day. There are many who have treatment available and who choose, for whatever reason, not to adhere to the treatment. There are know that they have the virus and yet they continue to engage in high-risk behavior.

Human behavior is a very complex phenomenon, and the study of human behavior and effecting changes in behavior is complicated by different cultures and belief systems. It is so easy for one to simply say that the best way to keep HIV/AIDS at bay is to use a condom. That is true; using a condom correctly with every single act of intimacy outside of a monogamous relationship with a known HIV negative partner is, in fact, the best way to prevent the transmission of HIV and other STD's. Anyone who understands HIV disease will adamantly support this fact. However, we need to take it a step further and begin to consider how we are going to get everyone worldwide to buy into this. Until we do, there will be no slowing of this horrible epidemic. You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink, just as you can hand out condoms but you cannot make people use them. We need to think outside of the box and start individualizing our prevention efforts worldwide.