Kathryn Jean Lopez: From Saint Peter’s Square to Harvard Square

[Ilion]

Kathryn Jean Lopez on NRO: From Saint Peter’s Square to Harvard Square[^] Media coverage of papal comments on AIDS in Africa is March madness.

‘We have found no consistent associations between condom use and lower HIV-infection rates, which, 25 years into the pandemic, we should be seeing if this intervention was working.” So notes Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, in response to papal press comments en route to Africa this week. ... “The pope is correct,” Green told National Review Online Wednesday, “or put it a better way, the best evidence we have supports the pope’s comments. He stresses that “condoms have been proven to not be effective at the ‘level of population.’” “There is,” Green adds, “a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the U.S.-funded ‘Demographic Health Surveys,’ between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates. This may be due in part to a phenomenon known as risk compensation, meaning that when one uses a risk-reduction ‘technology’ such as condoms, one often loses the benefit (reduction in risk) by ‘compensating’ or taking greater chances than one would take without the risk-reduction technology.” ...

What? You boys don't know about the 'risk compensation' effect?

... Green added: “I also noticed that the pope said ‘monogamy’ was the best single answer to African AIDS, rather than ‘abstinence.’ The best and latest empirical evidence indeed shows that reduction in multiple and concurrent sexual partners is the most important single behavior change associated with reduction in HIV-infection rates (the other major factor is male circumcision).” ...

Ah! So (as I said), that odd Aussie doctor promoting circumcision to "save water in the shower" wasn't absolutely incorrect about health benefits of male circumcision. He badly stated or may have over-stated the case (or may have been misquoted).

[Christian Graus]

Ilíon wrote:

“I also noticed that the pope said ‘monogamy’ was the best single answer to African AIDS, rather than ‘abstinence.’

Well, that's obvious. But, the fact is, you can't force people to be monogamous. Condoms plainly act as a barrier to disease. What this article seems to be saying, is that they are either not being used, or other risky behaviour is being taken because of condom use. However, there's a real issue here. This article says HIV infection rates are higher, and yesterday, you said that was a lie. So, which is it ?

Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

[Ilion]

Christian Graus wrote:

This article says HIV infection rates are higher, and yesterday, you said that was a lie. So, which is it ?

Why are you so dishonest? Or are you *really* as stupid as you act?

[John Carson]

This [AIDS Prevention Research] Project also seeks to promote a deeper understanding of the influence that spirituality, beliefs and values, such as respect and responsibility, can have on human behavior and health, especially with regard to the AIDS pandemic. The APRP is supported by the John Templeton Foundation.

http://www.harvardaidsprp.org/[^] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Templeton_Foundation#Debate_within_the_scientific_community[^]

John Carson

[Ilion]

John Carson wrote:

The APRP is supported by the John Templeton Foundation.

:rolleyes:

[Lost User]

Ilíon wrote:

What? You boys don't know about the 'risk compensation' effect?

So it was news to you, huh?

Bob Emmett