THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: By IRMA HINKLE
LENGTH: 52 lines
A few years ago, the Centers for Disease Control launched an HIV-prevention campaign aimed at people under 25. Its one goal was to inform people about the effectiveness of latex condoms.
Locally, the debate over the protection provided by condoms has resurfaced in the past few months. On one side, the Virginia Beach school system, in a mailing to parents, states: ``laboratory studies have shown that the virus (i.e., HIV) can pass through condoms.'' Health educators were quick to point out the difference between natural-skin condoms and latex condoms. The former are porous, thereby allowing HIV to pass through the membrane. Soon after, other health professionals, using latex gloves as their example, tried to point out that latex also is porous and subject to manufacturer error.
The CDC stated that the ``quality of latex condoms is higher than that of latex gloves . . . (condoms) undergo much-more-stringent quality-control procedures than gloves.'' Moreover, ``studies provide compelling evidence that latex condoms are highly effective in protecting against HIV infection when used properly for every act of intercourse.'' Proper and consistent use is the key.
We must all agree that underlying this debate about condom efficacy is simply the great debate in HIV prevention - abstinence vs. safer sex. It's not my role as an HIV educator to argue in either's favor because both are viable options in preventing HIV.
True, abstinence is regarded as the 100 percent safe option, but it must be practiced ``correctly and consistently'' and the individual must not be engaging in other known HIV-risk behaviors.
But latex condoms also represent a viable option for those who choose to be sexually active. To discount the effectiveness of condoms could have devastating results on someone making critical decisions about his sexual life.
We don't guarantee that seat belts will eliminate all risk of injury in a car crash, yet we would not suggest to someone to stop wearing them simply because of possible manufacturer or user error. Instead we would argue that all individuals should be educated about correct use.
For latex condoms, we argue the same - that all should be educated about proper use and storage.
Despite the debate, we all can agree that we need to slow down the spread of HIV in our community, which ranks No. 1 in the state for HIV cases and No. 2 for AIDS cases. The true key to prevention lies in open communication and the understanding that we all have options and that we all need to take responsibility for our behavior. MEMO: Irma Hinkle is the director of education for the Tidewater AIDS
Crisis Taskforce, a nonprofit AIDS service organization in Norfolk. by CNB