Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Consistent Condom Use Reduces the Transmission of HIV by 80%

The information here comes from an organization that is defintively pro-condom. There are many who believe that the figures are overly optimistic.  This would be due to the the standards established in this type study in order for couples to be able to qualify for inclusion in the results. 

The linked abstract from the World Health Organization website makes it quite clear that even consistent condom use is only partially effective in preventing the transmission of HIV.  The effectiveness of the condom in preventing the spread of HIV is lower than its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.  See, Weller SC, Davis-Beaty K. Condom effectiveness in reducing heterosexual HIV transmission. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003255. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003255.

Now, how could anyone plausibly say that the use of a condom to prevent the spread of HIV is moral?  How can one say that is moral for a man infected with HIV to have intercourse with his wife when the incidence of HIV transmission is still 20%?  So, to those in the Church who would use condoms to stop the spread of HIV, please, be prepared to write those 20% of women infected due to intercourse with their husbands, protected by a condom, of course, and tell them that they should be happy that they allowed their husbands to have sex with them, because the use of a condom is going to cut the HIV transmission rate by 80%, overall.

What condom use in this circumstance has to do with love of neighbor, and love of wife, remains beyond the level of this poor theologian's comprehension.

1 comment:

Lora Dolores said...

These horrific statistics prove that the condom is NOT SAFE! Thank you for this post. May our Blessed Lord and his Beautiful Mother bless you in your faithful evangelization.