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Study Shows HIV Spread Being Fueled By Risky Behavior of Gay Men Researchers from Ghent University say that their research shows that much of Europe's HIV and syphilis epidemic is being fuelled by the risky sexual behavior of young, gay white men. What concerns researchers and public health experts is that new syphilis and HIV cases are a sign that risky, unprotected sexual practices continue despite years of HIV prevention education. Even more concerning were clusters of new HIV infections among groups of men who have sex with other men that were genitically very similar; meaning that unprotected sex with multiple partners among these groups is happening and is contributing to the continued spread of HIV and syphilis. While experts remind us that men who have sex with men are not the only people engaging in risky sexual behavior, a continuing emphasis on HIV prevention and safer sex education among men who have sex with men is absolutely necessary. More Information Think Twice Before Having Unsafe Sex Making Safe Sexual Choices Safer Anal Sex Techniques Study Shows HIV Spread Being Fueled By Risky Behavior of Gay Men originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 23:25:18.Permalink | Comment | Email this "What Increases My Risk of HIV?" The most common question I get from my readers deals with the behaviors that put a person at risk for HIV. Everyone wants to know if their hot night has put them in harms way. Did the one night stand result in an STD or HIV infection. Plain and simple, people want to know if they have been infected with HIV. And if not they want to know which behaviors carry the most risk. There are certain behaviors and circumstances that increase the risk of an HIV infection. Conditions exist that make it easier for HIV to be transmitted from person to person. Read more... Related items "Do I have HIV?" Are HIV and AIDS the Same Thing? "What are the signs and symptoms of HIV?" "What Increases My Risk of HIV?" originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 18:27:47.Permalink | Comment | Email this Story Update - German Singer Found Guilty Nadja Benaissa, 28, a member of German girl band No Angels has been convicted of knowingly infecting a sex partner with HIV. The 28-year-old former singer for the female band No Angels was given a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to perform community service with HIV-positive people, according to German news reports. The singer expressed remorse during her trial, saying she never wanted to hurt anyone. She expressed regret again on the last day of her trial saying what she has done will always be painful for her. While expressing remorse during the trial, she did deny intentionally harming anyone; saying she felt the risk of infecting others was minimal. Her biggest concern has always been the welfare of her band and her daughter, fearing the trial and disclosure would do harm to both. More on HIV Disclosure How to Tell Someone You Have HIV What is Pepfar and What Does it Do for HIV? How to Tell Your Children You Have HIV Story Update - German Singer Found Guilty originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 23:29:32.Permalink | Comment | Email this Health Reform and Ryan White HIV Programs One of the most pressing questions at this week's All Titles meeting of the Ryan White CARE Act surrounded President Obama's new health care reform. Specifically, people wanted to know how this new method of health care for everyone was going to affect funding of Ryan White programs. The Ryan White CARE Act was originally signed into law to assure those people living with HIV who did not have adequate health insurance would get the HIV care they needed in order to stay alive and healthy. And back in 1990 when the law was signed and enacted, such a source of funding was desparately needed. It became obvious very quickly that caring for people infected with HIV was going to be a very expensive proposition. Since its inception, The Ryan White CARE Act has provided funding for thousands of essential programs from testing and prevention to direct HIV care. The Act is considered by some to be the most successful piece of healthcare legislation every written into law. But with the new healthcare reform that will be enacted in 2014, will this funding be necessary? Everyone will have insurance of some sort so providing for those without may become a thing of the past...or will it? With Obama's new plan, it is possible Ryan White Programs will actually see a huge increase in the number of people they serve. In addition, the number of health professionals trained to care for the complexities of HIV infection will become overburdened with the increasing number of clients. It's possible that a shortage of HIV healthcare professionals will become a reality as the current group of HIV professionals approaches retirement. So it's my contention that Ryan White funding will be absolutely essential to continue what we have built over the last 20 years. People with HIV are living longer, healthier lives due in large part to the efforts of the thousands of healthcare professionals and programs funding by the Ryan White CARE Act. The CARE Act is coming up for reauthorization in about 2 years. But it's not too early for all of you to let your elected officials know just how important Ryan White funding is for the well being of our HIV community. Write an e-mail or a letter to your Congressmen, Senators, and even President Obama himself. Let them know that we need the Ryan White CARE Act as much as we need healthcare reform. Contact Your Elected Officials Today Contact Your Senator Contact your Congressmen Contact the White House Health Reform and Ryan White HIV Programs originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 11:05:42.Permalink | Comment | Email this Making a Case for Anal Paps and Rectal Screening Your HIV Guide is starting his third day at the Ryan White All-Titles meeting in Washington DC. Among the hundreds of workshops available was an excellent workshop on preventing anal cancer in the HIV patient. Presented by Ross Cranston MD of the University of Pittsburgh, this workshop made a very good case for rectal screening and anal paps in HIV positive men and women. There has been an ongoing debate about the usefulness of anal paps (anal cytology) in the prevention of anal cancer in HIV positive people. According to Dr. Cranston, the University of Pittsburgh feels cytology is a useful tool and employs it to screen for cellular changes (dysplasias) in HIV positive men and in certain HIV positive women as well. And why shouldn't they. HIV positive men who have sex with men have a much higher risk of anal cancer when compared to men in the general population. According to Cranston, 1.6 / 100,000 men in the general population get anal cancer compared to 37-219 / 100,000 men who are HIV positive and have sex with men. The University of Pittsburgh screens all their HIV positive men for anal cancer. A digital rectal exam and anal pap (cytology) is done. If those are negative the client is reassessed annually. If the anal pap is positive for cellular changes, a high resolution anoscopy (HRA) is done. HRA is a procedure that uses a plastic tube inserted into the anus. Under magnification the cells of the anus are examined. An acetic acid solution is applied to facilitate examination of abnormal cells. After the HRA, these men are followed every 6 months. Follow-up is a very important. Anal cancer typically shows later in life, 45 to 60 years on average. As HIV infected people live longer their risk of anal cancer goes up. Follow-up helps the provider identify cellular changes early; making invasive anal cancers less likely. Dr. Cranston reminded the group in attendance that anal pap (cytology) should only be used if a system of HRA and follow-up is in place. If not, regular digital rectal exams should be done as well as patient education so any anal symptoms like pain, bleeding, or palpable masses that do occur are brought to the provider in a timely fashion. Interpreting Anal Pap Results The Benefits of Anal Pap Screening Making a Case for Anal Paps and Rectal Screening originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 12:30:28.Permalink | Comment | Email this Ryan White Conference Day Two Honors Excellence Day Two of the Ryan White Conference here in Washington DC began its morning plenary session by honoring those who have exhibited excellence in their work with the HIV population. Associate Administrator's Award - This year's honor goes to Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White. This award presented by the HIV Resource Services Administration (HRSA) honors an individual for his / her demonstrated dedication to serving people living with HIV. Hank Carde III Award for Metropolitan Services - this award is named for retired US Navy officer Henry "Hank" Carde III, twice awarded the Bronze Star and considered one of Washington DC's most effective AIDS activists. This year that award goes to Jeff Natter who starter his career in HIV 25 years ago as part of the Gay Men's Health Crisis. Since 1995 he has headed up Seattle - King County's Ryan White Part A Program. Dr. Nicholas Rango Award - This award, named for Dr. Nicholas Rango who was instrumental in developing New York State's plan to fight HIV through new treatment models. This year's recipient is Dwayne Haught, MSN, RN, who, among numerous achievements is the current Manager of the Texas AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Gabe Kruks Memorial HIV/AIDS Service Award - This award, named for Gabe Kruks, tireless strategist and policy advocate for street youth in Los Angeles is this year being presented to Karen Berube, Director of the Inova Juniper Program in Northern Virginia. Rebecca Denison Award - Named for Rebecca Denison, HIV positive mother of twins who is the founder of WORLD and HIV University of Oakland which teaches women how to live with HIV; this award is being presented to Jane Caruso, Project Director of the New Jersey Statewide Family Centered HIV Care Network. AIDS Education and Training Centers Award - Awarded this year to Dr. David Spach, provider of HIV care since 1992 and driving force for those who work in his 5-state Northwest AIDS Education and Training Centers. Russell E. Brady Award for Innovative Services Design - Awarded to Dr. Howell Ira Strauss for his innovative efforts to provide dental services for the HIV population since the late 1980's Ryan White Conference Day Two Honors Excellence originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 11:58:49.Permalink | Comment | Email this Ryan White Grantees Meet in DC Today marks day 1 of the Ryan White Care Act All-Titles Meeting held in Washington DC. The meeting of almost 2400 people, your HIV Guide included, is a collection of representatives of over 3000 programs funded by the Ryan White CARE Act; the law put into place in 1990 that provides funding for all aspects of HIV testing, prevention and care of people livng with HIV. This year's conference is entitled "Twenty Years of Leadership: A Legacy of Care"; commerorating twenty years since the act was signed into law. Part of the meeting includes a clinical update bringing together providers from all over the US to discuss what's new in the fight against HIV. Topics for the week will include preventing HIV transmission from mother to baby; the debate between treating everyone or only those with CD4 below 500; and a review of the new National HIV Strategy. This morning's session was highlighted by an emotional presentation by the mother of Ryan White, Jeanne White-Ginder. Her touching and at times emotional recollection of what her and Ryan went through in those early years brought a standing ovation from the crowd and many tears as well. What touched me the most and made me think was what Jeanne White-Ginder said. All she wanted to be in life was a mom. But instead by an unfortunate series of circumstances became a leader in the fight against HIV and a continuing voice for her son and his desire to make sure all people living with HIV get the care, compassion, and respect they deserve. As the crowd stood a second time in applause I felt that Jeanne White-Ginder was both a mom and a leader and all of us in that room were better for having heard her speak this morning. The conference runs until Thursday here in Washington DC. I will bring you highlights of the conference as well as my insight into the conference and the events that will be held throughout the next 3 1/2 days.Ryan White Grantees Meet in DC originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 12:32:43.Permalink | Comment | Email this Disposing of Old and Unused Medication When we think of medical waste, we typically think about old syringes, bloody gauze, or items contaminated with bodily secretions. Few people realize that there is another type of medical waste right in our own medicine cabinets. And this type of medical waste poses a health hazard to all that live in the home. I'm talking about the prescription medication in our homes; specifically expired and unused prescription medication. Like other types of medical waste there are special ways to dispose of old prescriptions and unused medication. Follow these simple guidelines to protect you, your family, your pets and the environment. Related Information Adherence Tips to Help You Take Your Meds Medication Side Effect Resources Lipodystrophy - A result of Medication Use Disposing of Old and Unused Medication originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 20:25:03.Permalink | Comment | Email this German Singer Knowingly Exposed Men to HIV Nadja Benaissa, 28, a member of German girl band No Angels, admitted in court that she knowingly had unprotected sex despite a diagnosis of HIV infection. She is being accused of greivous bodily harm for allegedly infecting her male partner with HIV. She is also being accused of attempted bodily harm for allegedly having unprotected sex with two other men not aware of her HIV infection. "I am sorry from my heart," she said in a statement read by her lawyer. "No way did I want my partner to be infected." Cases like these are becoming more and more common; individuals being charged for failing to disclose their HIV status to sexual partners prior to any sexual contact. But with every case brought to trial, the question of criminalizing HIV is debated. Is it a good idea; should HIV positive people be made out to be criminals when they fail to disclose? What effect does that have on prevention and testing efforts? Finally, in such situations is it only the HIV infected partner that should be made responsible for disclosure and safer sex? Or should the negative partner bear some responsibility in knowing their partner's HIV status before any sexual contact? All very good questions. What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts on a very complex and important question. Leave your comments and let your voice be heard. More HIV Legal Issues The Ethical and Legal Issues Associated with HIV HIV Disclosure - A Matter of Public Safety or a Breach of Confidentiality 8 Issues Facing People Living with HIV and AIDS Source Associated Press; "Singer Admits Endangering Man"; The Boston Globe; 17 Aug 2010.German Singer Knowingly Exposed Men to HIV originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 18:34:10.Permalink | Comment | Email this Which Countries Restrict or Ban HIV Travel? It took entirely too long but the United States has finally lifted its travel ban for people living with HIV. But unfortunately there are far too many countries that severely restrict the travel of HIV-positive people into their country. There are even countries that will immediately deport anyone found to be HIV-positive. So you can imagine the importance of knowing which countries have the harshest rules pertaining to travel and HIV positive people. This feature shows you the countries with the harshest policies and provides you with links to the HIV travel policies of dozens of countries around the world. More Information About Traveling with HIV HIV Travel Policies - A Country-by-Country Index Traveling with Medications Traveling and Staying Healthy Ending the US HIV Travel Ban Which Countries Restrict or Ban HIV Travel? originally appeared on About.com AIDS / HIV on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at 19:38:56.Permalink | Comment | Email this |
