UNITED STATES: Consumer Reports Puts 20 Condoms to the Test
Joseph Brownstein
ABC News (11.03.09) - Monday, November 09, 2009
In recent testing of 20 condom brands sold on the US market, all met minimum national and international
performance standards, according to Consumer Union, the independent nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.
Condoms are usually inflated with 17-18 liters of air in tests for breaking. "All of them test at the standard"
despite the variety of styles and brands, said Jamie Hirsh, an associate editor for Consumer Reports Health. Consumer Reports tested the
condoms at a higher volume of 25 liters, and even then seven condom types - including products from Durex, Lifestyles, and Trojan - never broke
in 500-600 tries. All the condoms were also submerged in water to check for leaks.
While all the condoms met regulators' minimum standards, "some of them are even better than fine," in that they
met Consumer Report's even "more stringent" tests, Hirsh said. "If you're looking for the strongest, toughest condom, that's what that extra
test gives you."
More importantly, Consumer Reports notes that "the most protection comes with using the condom properly," said
Eli Coleman, director of the human sexuality program at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Common errors in using condoms include
tearing them when opening the packaging; not allowing enough air in at the tip to prevent the condom from slipping off; putting them on
backwards; not putting them on soon enough; using expired condoms; and not using adequate lubricant, said Coleman.
"These tests show the reliability and integrity of the condoms, but they don't take into account what happens
when humans are using them," Coleman said. "Many of these condoms have been improved to enhance pleasure and sensitivity while maintaining the
integrity and the reliability of the condom."
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
AUSTRALIA: Alarm on Surge in HIV Cases
Julia Medew
The Age (Melbourne) (11.09.09) - Monday, November 09, 2009
A federal advisory committee of infectious-disease experts is recommending that Australia re-invigorate its
domestic HIV prevention efforts. The draft strategy advice is in response to what the committee said is a resurgent epidemic among gay men as
well as to emerging epidemics among travelers to high-risk countries and among Aboriginal and Torres Islander communities.
Besides a major campaign targeting gay men, Australia should also prioritize migrants from and visitors to high-
risk regions including Africa and Southeast Asia, said the ministerial advisory committee on blood-borne viruses and STDs. HIV could also
spread rapidly among indigenous Australians due to higher STD rates and IV drug use, it said.
New HIV diagnoses have grown 38 percent between 1999, when Australia recorded 718, and 2008, when the country had
995 reports, according to federal data released last month. Some of the increases might be attributed to a reduction in HIV prevention
campaigns, said Michael Kidd, chair of the advisory committee.
"It's certainly true that we had a reduction, particularly in targeted prevention activities, about a decade ago
and that following that we saw significant increases in HIV infection rates in parts of the country," Kidd said. While some areas that
continued prevention efforts saw success, "we need to keep going with the prevention messages all the time because there are young people
coming through now who might change aspects of their behavior that put them at risk of HIV and other blood-borne viruses."
SOUTH AFRICA: Health to Seek Extra Billions to Combat HIV/AIDS
Linda Ensor
Business Day (South Africa) (11.02.09) - Monday, November 09, 2009
South Africa's Department of Health is planning to request a boost in funding for HIV/AIDS treatment based on
estimates of the number of people needing antiretroviral therapy, a senior health official said recently. The extra funds would be administered
by DOH rather than through the provinces, said Kamy Chetty, the department's acting director-general.
In a budget statement introduced in Parliament, the Treasury Department added 5.5 billion rand (US $741 million)
for DOH's antiretroviral treatment program over the next three years. The treasury's revised medium-term budget estimate would bring the
conditional grant for treatment to a total of 19.2 billion rand (US $2.6 billion). However, DOH will need an estimated 4 billion more rand (US
$539 million), bringing the total over three years to about 23 billion rand (US $3.1 billion). DOH proposes the extra funds be allocated as 2.6
billion rand (US $350 million) for next year, 3.1 billion rand (US $418 million) the following year and then 4 billion rand (US $539 million)
the next year.
Chetty stressed that the proposals are still preliminary and based on estimates of patients needing treatment.
Under current guidelines, HIV patients become eligible for treatment when their CD4 count falls to 200/cubic millimeter. DOH is studying a
model that would initiate treatment earlier - boosting the number of patients in treatment as well as the program's cost. DOH will still have
to discuss its estimates with the Treasury Department, Chetty noted.
MEDICAL NEWS
UGANDA: Experience of Sexual Violence Among Women in HIV Discordant Unions After Voluntary HIV Counseling and
Testing: A Qualitative Critical Incident Study in Uganda
Donath Emusu; Nataliya Ivankova; Pauline Jolly; Russell Kirby; Herman Foushee; Fred Wabwire-Mangen; Drake Katongole; John Ehiri
AIDS Care Vol. 21; No. 11: P. 1363-1370 (11..09) - Monday, November 09, 2009
The researchers investigated experiences of sexual violence among women in HIV discordant unions, relationships
in which one partner is HIV-infected and the other is not, attending HIV post-test club services in Uganda.
The qualitative critical incident technique was used to interview a volunteer sample of 26 women from three AIDS
Information Centers who reported, in a larger epidemiological study, having experienced sexual violence. TEXTPACK, a software application for
computer-assisted content analysis, was used to analyze the data collected. Incidents of sexual violence narrated by the women included the use
of physical force and verbal threats.
Analysis of the data identified four themes that characterized the women's experience of sexual violence:
knowledge of HIV test results; prevalence of sexual violence; vulnerability; and proprietary views and reactions to sexual violence. Their male
partners' alcohol abuse was a key factor in the women's experience of sexual violence.
The women's "experiences evoked different reactions and feelings, including concern over the need to have
children, fear of infection, desire to separate from their spouses/partners, helplessness, anger, and suicidal tendencies," the authors
concluded. "HIV counseling and testing centers should be supported with the capacity to address issues related to sexual violence for couples
who are HIV discordant."
LOCAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS
CALIFORNIA: San Francisco Syphilis Rates Flatline
Matthew S. Bajko
Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (11.05.09) - Monday, November 09, 2009
The re-introduction of the "Healthy Penis" educational campaign is being credited in part with a leveling-off of
syphilis rates in San Francisco.
Syphilis cases in the city fell 20 percent from 2005 to 2007, but increased 55 percent - from 472 to 658 -
between 2007 and 2008. The 473 cases seen in the first nine months of 2009 suggest that the total for this year could be 548, slightly less
than the 552 seen in 2004.
Still, local public health officials are not breathing a sigh of relief.
"2008 was an extraordinarily high year. We have come down from that but we are nowhere near where we want to be
with syphilis rates, which is elimination," said Dr. Susan Philip, acting director of the health department's STD prevention and control
section.
The Healthy Penis campaign features a cast of cartoon characters: the phallus, dubbed Byron H. Penis; friends
Pedro (a Latino) and Clark (an African American); as well as their arch-enemy Phil, the Syphilis Sore. The program was shut down in 2006 and
brought back in the beginning of 2009. The city's cases of syphilis are seen chiefly among gay men, whom the campaign targets with advice on
prevention and testing.
The current campaign features six print ads, radio spots, interview shows, events, posters and outreach
materials, and bus ads.
Philip gave a nod to the Healthy Penis campaign but acknowledged other factors behind the current reduction in
syphilis. "The community and the continued partnership with providers in the community need part of the credit as well for at least stabilizing
the rates," she said.
The general stabilization of syphilis rates also holds up when looking only at primary and secondary syphilis. In
the first nine months of 2009, cases of primary and secondary syphilis totaled 235, a slight reduction from the 242 reported during the
comparable period last year.
CALIFORNIA: Monterey County HIV, AIDS Groups to Merge
Kimber Solana
Salinas Californian (11.04.09) - Monday, November 09, 2009
To save money and become more efficient, two Monterey County HIV/AIDS groups have announced plans to join forces.
"We saw the writings on the wall," said Tom Melville, a spokesperson for John XXIII HIV/AIDS Services. The
organization will combine with the Monterey County AIDS Project (MCAP) to become Central Coast HIV/AIDS Services (CCHAS).
Melville's remark was a reference to the actions of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who in July used his line-item
veto authority to cut $52 million from AIDS prevention and awareness efforts. This reduced the combined budgets of the two agencies by about a
quarter-million dollars, or 25 percent.
"Consolidating just makes sense," Melville said. "We realized this was not going to get any better anytime soon."
Toward their goal of providing more "sustainable and streamlined continuous care" for those living with HIV, the
groups' boards in August voted to merge.
CCHAS will operate from John XXIII's office on Baldwin Street in Salinas as well as from MCAP's space on Hamilton
Avenue in Seaside.
Melville said he will lead CCHAS as executive director. Kathleen Banks, MCAP's executive director, will leave to
spend more time with her family, Melville said.
The two groups have already begun consolidating, Melville said, though the transition will not be complete for
two to six months - after MCAP's nonprofit status expires.
MCAP's 19th annual Feast for AIDS fundraiser, which will now benefit CCHAS, takes place on Nov. 15. For
information, telephone 831-442-3959.
NEWS BRIEFS
TENNESSEE: HIV/AIDS Rate Prompts Visit
Tom Charlier
Commercial Appeal (Memphis) (11.05.09) - Monday, November 09, 2009
Shelby County is home to less than 15 percent of the state's residents but almost 40 percent of its 14,000-plus
HIV/AIDS patients, a fact that drew a visit Wednesday from the Department of Health and Human Services' assistant secretary for health. "This
is a completely preventable epidemic," Dr. Howard K. Koh said prior to taking part in a community meeting at East High School. Koh's visit was
part of a campaign launched by the Obama administration to fight HIV/AIDS, particularly its disproportionate impact on certain demographic
groups. "This is a critical area because we have a million people infected in the nation," Koh said, adding that "some very basic work" remains
to be done. Discrimination is hampering efforts to control the spread of the virus, said Health Department Director Yvonne Madlock: "Many
people may choose not to know their status to avoid dealing not only with the disease but the stigma associated with the disease."
CHINA: China Police Hunt for 2 Million Unsafe Condoms: Report
Agence France Presse (11.09.09) - Monday, November 09, 2009
The state-run China Youth Daily reports that police in Hunan province have shuttered a factory producing fake,
nonsterile condoms and are now trying to track down more than 2 million that have been shipped. Police say the suspect, Li Anping, bought the
condoms wholesale, added an unknown lubricant and packaged them without the benefit of sterilization. Li's scheme allegedly produced 2.16
million condoms before authorities closed the plant.
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