Aids Sexual Problems and Solutions Questions

1. Answer question (250-400 words)
2. Reply the 2 Topics (1 & 2) below

A. Answer the question:

What do you think is the best way to reduce the spread of AIDS in the US? in Sub Sahara Africa? Do you think harm reduction strategies such as needle exchanges should be legal?

Resources:

Video: TED Elizabeth Pisani: Sex Drugs and HIV—let’s get rational (19 mins) http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_pisani_sex_drug…

Video: TED Emily Oster flips our thinking on AIDS in Africa (16 mins) TED: http://www.ted.com/talks/emily_oster_flips_our_thi…

B. Reply these answers:
1. Sexually transmitted infections, along with other transmissible infections and viruses, is something that many people seem to not have a lot of knowledge on. However, there are numerous ways to reduce the spread of these infections. HIV and AIDS, particularly speaking, are spread not only through unprotected anal, vaginal, and/or oral sex, but also the exposure to an infected person’s bodily fluids (e.g blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, etc.). An effective method to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS is the practice of safe sex; specifically entailing the use of condoms (either female or male) and oral dams to protect from the exchange of bodily fluids during intercourse. In addition, pre-exposure prophylaxis (i.e. PrEP) is an HIV antiviral that has been developed to decrease the risk of contracting the virus or slowing the progress of the disease if already diagnosed. Regarding blood, diseases are usually spread through repetitive and shared use of needles between multiple people that are not properly sterilized. Without proper sterilization of the use of a new needle, susceptibility to bloodborne infections increase therefore the use of a personal and new needle should be practiced.
Sub-Saharan Africa does not have access to many medical privileges that we have access to here in the US. A way to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS is to increase opportunities to medical practices there and providing screening. Furthermore, it would help immensely to also try to inform about the importance of knowing sexual history including STI and HIV status, in addition to effectively communicating with sexual partners, properly treating the situation, and practicing correct, safe, and preventative measures during intercourse.
I think that harm reduction strategies such as needle exchanges should be legal. The opportunity to have access to clean needles would help reduce the spread of bloodborne infections. Putting drug use stigma aside, the opportunity to access clean and sterile instruments would essentially help encourage safe and sterile practices.