Tag Archive for "HIV"

Posts Tagged HIV

Condom policing in New York

These days, there’s a fairly broad consensus– among public health advocates, educators, parents, the media, and the porn industry– that condoms are GOOD. Whether one is penis-possessing or just along for the ride, most of us have been told to “wrap it up” since before we were performing acts that required us to do so. So why in the world do New York City police think it’s OK to confiscate condoms from some people — in particular, women suspected of prostitution — and actually use them as evidence against them in court?

As this article explains:

“Last year, New York City health workers gave out 37.2 million condoms. That works out to an average of 70 condoms every minute of ...

By Eesha Pandit • 12 years ago

New study questions link between HIV transmission and injectable contraceptives

On Monday, the NY Times reported on a new study which appears to show that the most popular contraceptive for women in eastern and southern Africa may double the risk of HIV infection. In addition, when it is used by HIV-positive women, their male partners are twice as likely to become infected than if the women had used no contraception at all.

These findings, which corroborate research in two other studies, also has limitations. To investigate further, the World Health Organization has decided to convene meeting in January to consider if evidence is now strong enough to advise women that the method may increase their risk of getting or transmitting HIV.

This information is really troubling for a number of reasons.

First, ...

By Vanessa • 12 years ago

U.S. organization paying HIV-positive women in Kenya to get IUDs

Anna Clark has a really important piece at The Nation about the work of Project Prevention (formerly known as CRACK), a previously domestic-based organization that has now spread their efforts internationally in the name of protecting children — by paying HIV-positive women 40 bucks to get an IUD.

That amount of money is actually quite a bit in Kenya, where the average household income makes $400 a year. So when you come across a person who is offering that kind of cash to team up with other HIV-positive women, create a business plan together and get free birth control, it sounds like a sweet deal, no? But the implications that this kind of program has around personal agency and ...

By Vanessa • 13 years ago

Obama administration rescinds Bush’s “conscience clause”

It looks like the days of the anti-choice pharmacist are over; now, they’re just plain ole pharmacists. The fantastic news slipped past our radar late last week:

After two years of struggling to balance the rights of patients against the beliefs of health-care workers, the Obama administration on Friday finally rescinded most of a federal regulation designed to protect those who refuse to provide care they find objectionable on moral or religious grounds.

The decision guts one of President George W. Bush’s most controversial legacies: a rule that was widely interpreted as shielding workers who refuse to participate in a range of medical services, such as providing birth control pills, caring for gay ...

It looks like the days of the anti-choice pharmacist are over; now, they’re just plain ole pharmacists. The fantastic news slipped past our radar late last week:

After two years of struggling to balance the rights ...

By Vanessa • 13 years ago

What We Missed

As noted in Chloe’s post, anti-choice New York Times columnist Ross Douthat is angry again because women don’t want to be breeding machines. Amanda and Jill call him out on it brilliantly.

Funny of the Day: A retweet of gay conservative pundit has folks saying Sarah Palin is a “friend of the gay community.” It’s funny cause it’s not true. (via)

A new HIV campaign launched by NYC is causing division between HIV/AIDS activists.

Live in or around NYC and not ready for the holiday partying to be over? Come to our next Feministing Happy Hour on Wednesday with our friends Soapbox Inc. and Paradigm ...

As noted in Chloe’s post, anti-choice New York Times columnist Ross Douthat is angry again because women don’t want to be breeding machines. Amanda and Jill call him out on ...

By Vanessa • 13 years ago

Stand Strong with Youth on World AIDS Day

This is a guest post for World AIDS Day by Planned Parenthood’s Dr. Sarah Onyango, Regional Director for Africa and Dr. Linda Valencia, Guatemala Program Manager.

Just outside the sprawling city of Nairobi, Kenya, sits Kibera, one of the largest urban slums in Africa. In Kibera, most families live in shacks with dirt floors and tin roofs, nearly all without electricity, running water or toilets. Lack of access to basic sanitation and health care means that growing up in Kibera puts young people at increased risk of disease and infection. HIV prevalence may be falling around the world, but the epidemic still rages in the slums and, according to the latest UNAIDS estimates, young people continue to account for ...

This is a guest post for World AIDS Day by Planned Parenthood’s Dr. Sarah Onyango, Regional Director for Africa and Dr. Linda Valencia, Guatemala Program Manager.

Just outside the sprawling city of Nairobi, Kenya, sits Kibera, one ...

By Rose • 13 years ago

The Pope’s recent gesture is not an about face on HIV prevention

This weekend, the Pope has drawn wide praise after comments he made in the recently released, Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times, that support condoms in some circumstances. But I agree with the Christian Science Monitor’s assertion; this is evolution, not revolution.

Let us first look at the context of both comments.

In March 2009, the Pope was on a plane ride to Yaounde, Cameroon during his first visit to Africa as Pope when he said, ”You can’t resolve it with the distribution of condoms,” the pope continued ”On the contrary, it increases the problem.” While he later followed up by saying that a moral attitude toward sex would help fight ...