Out of Control: AIDS in Black America-- ABC special

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Exquisite5

I once heard a physician on the radio suggest that ALL AfAm women, be they married or single, should use condoms. I don't know how practical that is.

I don't think condoms are enough protection against AIDS for married women to worry about it. Unless you're only with your husband once a month or so, the odds of a condom malfunction are high enough that they pretty much nullify use in frequent intercourse. If your husband has AIDS, and you have intercourse with him on a constant basis, you are probably going to get AIDS regardless of use of a condom.

Until they come up with a 100% effective prevention of STDs, with one night stands, you're still tossing a coin, but I would hope those would be less frequent then a monogamous relationship.

[nikki1920]

I'd like to see the church take on a more proactive stance, but you know how "righteous" some of our churches can be. I STILL get looked at funny when I bring my daughter to some churches.

How about we just get tested more often? I get a test every 6 months, period point blank. We need to stop stigmatizing people who are HIV positive. It's not a punishment from God nor is it a gay disease. I would like for the church to take on safer sex education, but I realize that this is a long shot.

[lovelyivy84]

Agreed with nikki- we all need to stop pretending this isn't out there and take precautions. I honestly don't know how to respond to the question though- how do we make everyone more aware. I feel like I grew up knowing this was out there, as did everyone my generation. It's affected the way I carry myself and conduct my relationships my whole adult life. We have been bombarded with the consequences that risky sexual behavior leads to for decades, but a lot people are just not willing to change, or refrain from this behavior.

[nikki1920]

It's an interesting question though..

[Neosoulchild]

Originally Posted by nikki1920

I would like for the church to take on safer sex education, but I realize that this is a long shot.

If the Church believes that fornication is a sin, homosexuality is a sin, and adultery is a sin, why would they take on safer sex education? Wouldn't that be hypocritical?

[So blessed!]

Neosoulchild, your point is well-taken, but I think HIV/AIDS transmission falls under the same rubric as teenage parenthood, street violence, and drug abuse-- which many churches do preach about.

It's about respect of your body (and, in this case, your partner's body). One of the most disturbing parts of the special was when two Af-Am men in the panel said that they had given HIV/AIDS to their S.O.'s, and they showed NO REMORSE. People who don't respect themselves tend to engage in high-risk behaviors and put their partners at risk.

I'm not sure if regular HIV/AIDS screening for each person is the way to go... once you've got it, you've got it. Screening won't make all infected people tell the truth to their partners or try to protect their partners.

Where else other than the church in the Black community are we equipped to deal with issues of self-respect, honesty, candor, and safe sexual relationships????? Not our news stations-- we don't have one. Oprah can't do it all. To my thinking, our music videos are the only mainstream outlet that we share, but most artists choose promiscuity and no-consequences sex as topics instead of education and respect...

[jubilance1922]

Originally Posted by Neosoulchild

If the Church believes that fornication is a sin, homosexuality is a sin, and adultery is a sin, why would they take on safer sex education? Wouldn't that be hypocritical?

Just my opinion...

You can love someone and try to help them and keep them healthy without condoning their behavior. Its more than likely that folks are going to have sex, and so it is better for the church (who has a significant amount of influence) to remain silent, or to go out and try to educate people so that they continue to be healthy?

Not to mention, part of the education process can be a religious decision on why its important to wait until marriage, not only as part of your duty to yourself and your faith, but also because of XYZ health risks.

[Honeykiss1974]

Well I do not think we can blame "the church" for the HIV/AIDS crisis within our community because their stance/support is one clearly of abstinence. I think first and foremost, many in our community still think HIV/AIDS is a "gay white man" disease and it won't happen to him/her, plain and simple. Think about it. I mean, condoms are easily and readily available. In stores, at schools, health clinics, etc. most of the time for a small fee if not the majority of the time FREE. So the means of protection is there and has been. The question is why aren't people using it because the message that condoms help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is out there, everywhere.

ETA: I saw the special when it aired last week and it was very good. I liked how it addressed all areas of potential causes and not just the same old "condoms will fix it" solutions.

[Neosoulchild]

I'm not saying that the church should remain silent on the issue at all. That was one of my biggest problems with the reasons/excuses they gave for AIDS being so rampant amongst blacks. The church should be doing more, and T.D. Jakes' remark about the church not being about to hone in on one issue is a load of crap to me. I know the church has addressed teenage pregnancy and drug use before, but I've never heard the church say the answer to teenage pregnancy is the practice of safer sex or the answer to drug abuse is clean needles. That's not addressing the issue of why those behaviors are taking place. If the church's stance is abstinence, I don't think they should compromise that just because society accepts fornication, homosexuality, or adultery. But that's just my opinion.

[neosoul]

I concur... Churches are suposed to deal with the issues facing the community... As a church elder you dont need to know how I got HIV, what you need to be worrying about is my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being.

I dedicate my community service hours to helping PLWA (Persons Living With AIDS) and the way black folks are treated is APALLING! (sp) they are the ones coming in to the clinic I volunteer with for housing, legal and financial help. I am trying to get certifed so I can give the HIV Oral test... I can count on my two hands how many black women have come in to get tested for HIV (which btw is free), and I've been with this clinic for about a year now...

p.s. I'm loving your name Neosoulchild

[Toujours_Jolie]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I don't think condoms are enough protection against AIDS for married women to worry about it. Unless you're only with your husband once a month or so, the odds of a condom malfunction are high enough that they pretty much nullify use in frequent intercourse. If your husband has AIDS, and you have intercourse with him on a constant basis, you are probably going to get AIDS regardless of use of a condom.

Until they come up with a 100% effective prevention of STDs, with one night stands, you're still tossing a coin, but I would hope those would be less frequent then a monogamous relationship.

I'm a Certified HIV Tester and Prevention Counselor, and I would have to disagree regarding your statement about condoms not being effective enough for individuals engaged in frequent sex with one another. If you use a condom correctly, even if you have sex a lot, the odds of your condom malfunctioning don't increase. Studies have shown that individuals who use condoms while engaging in vaginal intercourse with an infected partner are not very likely to contract the virus. It's much easier to get pregnant or become infected with Hepatitis than it is to contract HIV, which is why using a condom is more effective at staving off HIV than it is for preventing pregnancy or Hepatitis. Of course, no method of protection is 100% fail proof. However, its very dangerous to give people the impression that condom use is ineffective at preventing HIV transmission. If more people used condoms all the time, the rate of transmission would drop drastically.

[nonchalant]

Originally Posted by Toujours_Jolie

I'm a Certified HIV Tester and Prevention Counselor, and I would have to disagree regarding your statement about condoms not being effective enough for individuals engaged in frequent sex with one another. If you use a condom correctly, even if you have sex a lot, the odds of your condom malfunctioning don't increase. Studies have shown that individuals who use condoms while engaging in vaginal intercourse with an infected partner are not very likely to contract the virus. It's much easier to get pregnant or become infected with Hepatitis than it is to contract HIV, which is why using a condom is more effective at staving off HIV than it is for preventing pregnancy or Hepatitis. Of course, no method of protection is 100% fail proof. However, its very dangerous to give people the impression that condom use is ineffective at preventing HIV transmission. If more people used condoms all the time, the rate of transmission would drop drastically.

I was waiting on someone to speak on that because I totally disagreed too. I just didn't want to do any research to locate the facts.

Pertaining to the question at hand, I feel that sex education should be more detailed. I feel that people with HIV/AIDS should speak in these sessions and state their view including how/why they got it, how it effects everyday life, etc. I think people put too much trust in their partners. Testing should be done every six months, and paper work should always be requested for proof of the results. Partners should ask for paperwork and still take into consideration the time frame it takes for the virus to show up in the body. There are many things that can be done. People just get caught up in the moment and are too trusting.

[neosoul]

Originally Posted by Toujours_Jolie

I'm a Certified HIV Tester and Prevention Counselor...

I'm working on that righ' now... church!