Abstinence-Only in Africa: A Misguided Approach to HIV Prevention

[Rainsford]

The first thing we need to realize is that proponents of abstinence-only programs in Africa aren't interested in stopping AIDS, they are interested in pushing their agenda. Otherwise they would realize that abstinence, while the only 100% prevention, will only work in a fantasy land. Some people will not have sex, that's true, but the majority of people are going to keep having sex no matter how much "education" they have. Think about it, you tell some African that the ONLY way he can not get AIDS is by not having sex, what do you think he is going to do? Sometimes he might stop having sex, but God gave us these urges for a reason, so more often than not, he's going to take his chances. Sex is one of the most powerful urges God gave man (if you believe in God), it's damn hard to resist, and not everyone is up to the challenge.

But let's say we have a comprehensive program promoting abstinence if you want 100% protection, and safe-sex methods for those who want to be reasonably safe without giving up sex. That would improve the situation in Africa dramatically, without trying to force cultural changes on large numbers of people (and history shows us that always works SO well). But like I said, it's pretty clear the abstinence people don't care about that or aren't willing to accept reality, they have an agenda to push and who cares if it doesn't solve the problem.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
The first thing we need to realize is that proponents of abstinence-only programs in Africa aren't interested in stopping AIDS, they are interested in pushing their agenda. Otherwise they would realize that abstinence, while the only 100% prevention, will only work in a fantasy land. Some people will not have sex, that's true, but the majority of people are going to keep having sex no matter how much "education" they have. Think about it, you tell some African that the ONLY way he can not get AIDS is by not having sex, what do you think he is going to do? Sometimes he might stop having sex, but God gave us these urges for a reason, so more often than not, he's going to take his chances. Sex is one of the most powerful urges God gave man (if you believe in God), it's damn hard to resist, and not everyone is up to the challenge.

But let's say we have a comprehensive program promoting abstinence if you want 100% protection, and safe-sex methods for those who want to be reasonably safe without giving up sex. That would improve the situation in Africa dramatically, without trying to force cultural changes on large numbers of people (and history shows us that always works SO well). But like I said, it's pretty clear the abstinence people don't care about that or aren't willing to accept reality, they have an agenda to push and who cares if it doesn't solve the problem.

Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five adolescents and adults, have had genital HSV infection. Between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection increased 30 percent.

Each year, there are 15 million new cases of STDs in the US, including 10 million cases among people aged 15-24. Many of these people who have been infected probably thought they didn?t need to worry about protection. While a few STDs are curable, many others can have lasting effects on your health and sex life.

45 million babies have been murdered since 1993.

Over 500,000 people have died of AIDS since 1980.

There's a simple solution that works every time: abstinence.

Just follow the instructions God laid out in His word. Remain abstinent until marriage, find a partner that has done likewise, and remain monogamous.

 

[illustri]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: Rainsford
The first thing we need to realize is that proponents of abstinence-only programs in Africa aren't interested in stopping AIDS, they are interested in pushing their agenda. Otherwise they would realize that abstinence, while the only 100% prevention, will only work in a fantasy land. Some people will not have sex, that's true, but the majority of people are going to keep having sex no matter how much "education" they have. Think about it, you tell some African that the ONLY way he can not get AIDS is by not having sex, what do you think he is going to do? Sometimes he might stop having sex, but God gave us these urges for a reason, so more often than not, he's going to take his chances. Sex is one of the most powerful urges God gave man (if you believe in God), it's damn hard to resist, and not everyone is up to the challenge.

But let's say we have a comprehensive program promoting abstinence if you want 100% protection, and safe-sex methods for those who want to be reasonably safe without giving up sex. That would improve the situation in Africa dramatically, without trying to force cultural changes on large numbers of people (and history shows us that always works SO well). But like I said, it's pretty clear the abstinence people don't care about that or aren't willing to accept reality, they have an agenda to push and who cares if it doesn't solve the problem.

Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five adolescents and adults, have had genital HSV infection. Between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection increased 30 percent.

Each year, there are 15 million new cases of STDs in the US, including 10 million cases among people aged 15-24. Many of these people who have been infected probably thought they didn?t need to worry about protection. While a few STDs are curable, many others can have lasting effects on your health and sex life.

45 million babies have been murdered since 1993.

Over 500,000 people have died of AIDS since 1980.

There's a simple solution that works every time: abstinence.

Just follow the instructions God laid out in His word. Remain abstinent until marriage, find a partner that has done likewise, and remain monogamous.

Huh? that surely can't be the judeo-xtian god who blessed the harems of david and solomen

Rip I wonder if you're one of those people who've never masturbated, hell maybe even never had seminal emissions. Anyway good luck to yourself in following your weird god's rules.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Rip do you realize that nobody on this forum gives you one ounce of respect, and that even if you do say something insightful nobody will bother to pay any attention because of your preexisting reputation.

 

[illustri]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
Rip do you realize that nobody on this forum gives you one ounce of respect, and that even if you do say something insightful nobody will bother to pay any attention because of your preexisting reputation.

Damn, now I feel guilty, like I just kicked a quadrapalegic in the balls.

 

[mercanucaribe]

This is all nonsense. All we have to do is pray harder.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
Rip do you realize that nobody on this forum gives you one ounce of respect, and that even if you do say something insightful nobody will bother to pay any attention because of your preexisting reputation.

Checked your user rating lately?

 

[NJDevil]

Rip, you're absolutely right about abstinence being the only effective way of preventing STD's and unwanted pregnancy. However, do you propose we don't teach people about condom use? If they are going to have pre-marital sex (which is very common, especially in africa), what's the harm in teaching them about condoms? It lowers the number of new HIV infections (as proven in some African country, i forget which one).

I understand that abstinence is important to you, but most people don't believe the same things you do. Most people will have sex before marriage and if they learn about the benefits of condom use, don't you think it benefits everyone?
No unwanted babies (less abortions which you dislike)
Far fewer STD's

The alternative of teaching abstinence only sex education relies on the idea that if people don't learn about sex in schools, they won't have it. I'm sure we can agree that is a ridiculous notion at best.

Thus, they should teach about both abstinence being 100% effective and that if one were having sex, condoms would do a great deal in preventing pregnancy and the spread of HIV.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
Rip do you realize that nobody on this forum gives you one ounce of respect, and that even if you do say something insightful nobody will bother to pay any attention because of your preexisting reputation.

Checked your user rating lately?

Not that I give a flying fsck, but have you checked your own? What kind of pathetic response was that? Seriously, are you in first grade?

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: Rainsford
The first thing we need to realize is that proponents of abstinence-only programs in Africa aren't interested in stopping AIDS, they are interested in pushing their agenda. Otherwise they would realize that abstinence, while the only 100% prevention, will only work in a fantasy land. Some people will not have sex, that's true, but the majority of people are going to keep having sex no matter how much "education" they have. Think about it, you tell some African that the ONLY way he can not get AIDS is by not having sex, what do you think he is going to do? Sometimes he might stop having sex, but God gave us these urges for a reason, so more often than not, he's going to take his chances. Sex is one of the most powerful urges God gave man (if you believe in God), it's damn hard to resist, and not everyone is up to the challenge.

But let's say we have a comprehensive program promoting abstinence if you want 100% protection, and safe-sex methods for those who want to be reasonably safe without giving up sex. That would improve the situation in Africa dramatically, without trying to force cultural changes on large numbers of people (and history shows us that always works SO well). But like I said, it's pretty clear the abstinence people don't care about that or aren't willing to accept reality, they have an agenda to push and who cares if it doesn't solve the problem.

Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five adolescents and adults, have had genital HSV infection. Between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection increased 30 percent.

Each year, there are 15 million new cases of STDs in the US, including 10 million cases among people aged 15-24. Many of these people who have been infected probably thought they didn?t need to worry about protection. While a few STDs are curable, many others can have lasting effects on your health and sex life.

45 million babies have been murdered since 1993.

Over 500,000 people have died of AIDS since 1980.

There's a simple solution that works every time: abstinence.

Just follow the instructions God laid out in His word. Remain abstinent until marriage, find a partner that has done likewise, and remain monogamous.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I'm well aware that the only 100% solution is not having sex. That being said, it is stupid to push that as the ONLY solution, because people that want to have sex anyways are given no way to protect themselves.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are very few situations where comprehensive education is worse than giving carefully selected bits of information. Case in point, how is it better to say, "The only sure way to not get AIDS is to not have sex" than to say, "The only sure way to not get AIDS is to not have sex, but using a condom gives you a good chance to not get AIDS"? Am I missing something?

Numbers don't show the whole story, because I'd like to know how many people were properly using protection and gots AIDS anyways. My guess is that it is a tiny percentage of total AIDS cases.