God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

Young adults born with HIV and parenthood challenges

As children born with HIV age into adulthood, they need guidance facing the additional challenges the virus poses if they consider becoming a parent. Especially in Southern Africa, where a whole generation of HIV positive want-t0-be-parents are growing up it is from utmost importance to face the upcoming problems and challenges. It’s not only about sexual encounters but responsible parenthood and dealing with the still existing stigma of being a HIV positive parent. Researchers at Royal Holloway University and St. Mary’s Hospital, London published their findings about this subject in the journal AIDS Care. I guess more should be done on this topic and I urge especially the churches to take on this topic – as a serious challenge for the parents, but also for the way, churches see sexuality and what goes with it. There is a common learning curve visible and is awaiting that we take the challenge.

Here you can find a brief resume of the write-up on the website of the Royal Holloway University in London / Great Britain. Click here.

Filed under: Catholic Church, General, HIV and AIDS, Religion and Ethics, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , ,

PrEP – what you need to know…

Conversation around HIV prevention breakthroughs in pill form has permeated brunch tables, newspapers, and doctors’ offices. But even though pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) have been approved as methods to prevent the transmission of HIV through sexual intercourse or intravenous drug use, some of those who could benefit from PrEP and PEP are still not quite sure how they work. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about PrEP.
What is PrEP?
Can I take it only on days I have sex?
Do I have to take it forever?Who should start a PrEP regimen?
Is it OK to use PrEP as the only method of HIV prevention?
What are the side effects of PrEP?
Read about all this on the informative page of HIVplusmag here.

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, HOPE Cape Town Trust, Medical and Research, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

And another thought of being undetectable & on treatment

Chronic Disease

Chronic Disease (Photo:tamahaji)

Dave R. from TheBody.com is reflecting on the question of undetectable and what it would mean for those being infected. There are recommendations but there is no certainty. There might be certainty after further studies and in the moment it looks good for those who say that being undetectable, on treatment and no STI’s are not infectious anymore. Have you ever thought what this would mean for those being HIV positive? It would mean that HIV treated proper would be equal like having cancer, being a diabetic and having any other chronic disease.  If, after indisputable proof, it would be widely reported that people on successful treatment are not in danger of passing on the virus, then there is no reason for every sexually active person on the planet not to get tested and if necessary treated because treatment will make you a safe person to have sex with. It would be a great argument for getting tested and on treatment. And it would diminish the stigma attached still to this condition. Undetectable = not infectious: this would change perception and consequences of HIV and AIDS. To read the interesting reflection of Dave R. click here.

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Medical and Research, Politics and Society, Reflection, Religion and Ethics, Society and living environment, , , , , , , , ,

More therapy = more unprotected sex?

Scenery around KLCC park at night

 KLCC park at night (Photo: Wikipedia)

There is the argument, that antiretroviral therapy seen as prevention could lead to more unprotected sex in the future. That, so argue the people following this line,  will jeopardize treatment success and discourage from using a condom or taking other measures of protection. On the 7th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Kuala Lumpur a study was presented addressing the issue. The results are encouraging:  A meta-analysis has found no increase in risk taking in people who are
taking antiretroviral treatment, compared to other people with HIV. In
fact, people on treatment had less unprotected sex and fewer sexually
transmitted infections. For more on this topic please continue reading here.

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Medical and Research, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

South Africa is on a good way… so they say…

In the speech of Helen Zille, premier of the Western Cape it sounded like this:

On health, Zille said the province’s HIV prevalence rate was “cause for grave concern”. In 2009, the provincial government set a target of reducing HIV prevalence from 16 percent to 8 percent by 2014. “We have failed to meet this target. In fact, the prevalence rate has increased to 18.4 percent in 2011,” she said. “The biggest increase was among women between the ages of 30 and 39 years.”

 

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, Politics and Society, , , , , , , , , , ,

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