In my ongoing search for risk, I decided to look at the risk
of sexually transmitted diseases and infections, with a focus on sites dealing with HIV/AIDS.
In a comparison of government websites on the subject the
USA wins hands down compared to Canada for its easy navigation, simplicity and
clarity.
While Gay/Bisexual males are the most affected group (61% of
new HIV infections in US), Heterosexual contact accounted for 27%, and
injection transmission was 9% of new cases in 2009. The CDC states that 17,000 people with AIDS in
the US died in 2009 and 619,000 since the 1980s.
This is contradicted somewhat by this site (http://www.aliveandwell.org/) that downplays
the risk. And while they are a laudable
group trying to dispel myths about the disease, why do they claim that
prostitutes are not a risk group for AIDS, when the site below says otherwise?
http://www.aidsmap.com/Female-sex-workers-have-14-times-the-risk-of-having-HIV-as-other-women/page/2457223/ Or even here (which also talks about other risk factors facing sex workers in African countries): http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=832&dir=2012/August/Tuesday28
It may not be an epidemic that is affecting millions upon
millions, but it nevertheless is a high-priced risk that ruins lives, no matter
the number of people affected.
This is an interesting article that points out the
challenges facing the enforcement of laws against prostitution vs. health
promotion in major US cities. By using condoms
as evidence against prostitutes, it forces them to do without, thus risking the
spread of disease.
Should the police go after the sex workers or the
johns? Or should it be illegal at
all? Just how much risk of arrest is
facing the Girl of The Blue Room,
especially by the river with the Cab Driver?
And this is another article covering the risks facing sex workers: http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/57/5/322.full
One website based out of BC group in Canada is addressing
the sexual health issues in general terms.
http://smartsexresource.com/ They also hosted a blog that dealt
specifically with sex workers and their customers here: http://healthnurse.wordpress.com/ but appears that will be soon trumped by the more general smartsexresource.com site above.
Here is an online published article from the APA on how some
psychologists are addressing high risk sexual-behaviour with young people,
through the use of interactive videos:
Johns Hopkins University has a comprehensive website/online
magazine on sexual health here:
It exists as a means of education to remove the stigma of
sex.
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