Teaching the ABCs: AIDS PreventionAugust 11, 2003 Harvard anthropologist Edward C. "Ted" Green, a supporter of
the "ABCs" -- abstinence, be faithful, or use condoms -- approach
to AIDS prevention, has been appointed to the President's
Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. President Bush, Secretary of State
Colin Powell and Paula Dobriansky, undersecretary of state for
global affairs, have endorsed abstinence as a means of AIDS
prevention, especially in Africa and the Caribbean. But Green, at
the forefront of calling attention to the ABCs approach, stressed
"it is not 'abstinence only' or 'condoms only.' Both are needed.
There is a need for condoms if A and B fail. Some people will
never change their behavior." While some high-risk groups like
prostitutes are unlikely to change their behavior and need
condoms, Green said, Uganda's experience with the "B" approach of
monogamous relationships and fidelity in marriage shows that a
general population can and will change its behavior.
Adapted from:Back to other news for August 11, 2003 Washington Times 08.08.03; John McCaslin This article was provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update. |