Confronting HIV/AIDS In Black Women In Washington, D.C., Requires 'Frank Talk,' Washington Post Opinion Piece Says

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 05 Dec 2008 - 2:00 PDT


"If ever there was a case for unvarnished sex education in public schools, the ongoing AIDS epidemic in black America ought to be it," columnist Courtland Milloy writes in a Washington Post opinion piece. He adds, "[H]ow can we teach [HIV prevention] if we can't talk frankly?" Milloy writes that "focusing on women and AIDS" is important "because it's up to women to save their own lives," adding that "too many men are not trying to protect" women from sexually transmitted infections. He continues, "Most of the time, they are just trying to have sex. Quite frankly, you would have thought more women would have caught on by now." According to Milloy, "In the district, the number of women living with AIDS increased by more than 76% in six years -- nine out of 10 of them black women." He writes, "Blame the man all you want, but it's the mother and child who suffer most."

Although there is "certainly no shortage of public service announcements aimed at reducing infection rates among African-Americans, ... most consist of preachy platitudes, politically correct and 'culturally sensitive' pablum," Milloy says. "The results should not be surprising," he writes, concluding that "in the absence of frank talk, we could at least help young girls ... by getting them to serve a few weeks at an AIDS hospice. Careless sex would likely lose its sheen once they realize that their lovers could be the Grim Reaper in disguise" (Milloy, Washington Post, 12/3).

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