The Inside Scoop
According to the National Guidelines for the Management of STIs jointly prepared by the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal HAPCO, sexually transmitted infections are caused by more than 30 pathogens that can be transmitted through unprotected sex. STIs may be broadly classified into ulcerative and non-ulcerative (discharge) or curable and non-curable (MoH, 2006). While it’s easy to prevent the transmission of non-ulcerative or discharge STIs through the correct and consistent use of condoms, it’s rather difficult to prevent the transmission of ulcerative STIs, as open sores and infected parts may be found in areas where condoms cannot cover. Thus, in such cases the best prevention method is abstinence. STIs are especially more severe on women as the consequence of some STIs may result in cervical cancer, death during child birth and child infection during pregnancy or childbirth. Although the Ethiopian government has come up with a National guideline to…
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The Inside Scoop
Thursday, 29 December 2011 07:16
Zero new HIV Infections for Sero-Discordant Couples?
Written by Meklit G.Michael
Sero-discordance is a term used to describe the sero status of couples where one partner is HIV positive and the other is HIV negative. Sero-discordant couples could be married, pre-marital or cohabiting. A case study conducted in selected health centers in Dessie found that, couples’ sero-discordance was mostly due to frequent history of travel, short or long term departure from partner and partners’ history of STI and alcohol abuse, even though there may be other reasons at country level. According to the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), from 2,674 couples tested for HIV, 98% of the cohabiting couples were concordant negative, while 1.8% of the 2.1% were discordant. This shows that, 1.8% of negative partners in sero-discordant relationships are at high risk of contracting the HIV virus unless the necessary measures are taken to avert infection. Worldwide, it is estimated that only half of the 33 million people…
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Wednesday, 30 November 2011 13:07
Alcohol Intoxication & Sexual Risk Taking
Written by Meklit G.Michael
In Ethiopia, different alcoholic drinks are consumed, from the traditionally prepared beer and honey mead wine to industrially produced beer, wine, distilled spirits etc. Drinking alcohol is very much part of the Ethiopian culture. Apart from it being a way to unwind and socialize with friends, it is usually a big part of wedding celebrations, social gatherings, holidays and other festivities. When alcoholic drinks are abused, apart from having both short and long term direct negative health effects, it can also affect behavior negatively and expose drinkers to unwanted sexual risk taking. In the urban and metropolitan cities of Ethiopia, a wide range of both modern and traditional bars are available selling from low-priced drinks with unknown alcoholic content to high end wine and distilled alcoholic beverages. In the absence of effective implementation of alcohol prohibitory laws for minors in the country, both under age youths and adults can go…
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Are young women with upper income and better levels of education making use of the life saving condom? A study conducted by the CDC states that “Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing the transmission of HIV.” For centuries male condoms have been in use to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Although, there are different types of condoms, such as those made from latex, polyurethane and lamb intestine, the most widely used in Ethiopia is the male latex condom. Estifanos Teshome, a healthy-looking vivacious character living with HIV, told us that when he first started to have sexual intercourse at the age of 11, not much was known about condoms or HIV/AIDS. He said someone who wanted to buy condoms, found in pharmacies at the time, was considered as a promiscuous person. Not only that “At that time, if a woman asked a…
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This true story is about an HIV positive pregnant mother who told us her fascinating story while she was waiting to get antenatal care. This mother, who was engaged in housework in Dubai about twenty years ago, was told by her employers to give blood for HIV testing. During that time, since the notion of having housemaids tested for HIV was not new, it did not come to her as a surprise. So, she goes with her employers and gives her blood as requested. However, what transpired when her test results came was nothing like she had expected. Men wearing masks and dressed in protective clothing come with the police and knock on her door. When she looks through the peephole, she sees the men standing with her employers. Not thinking much of it, she opens the door for them. Once inside, the men notify her that they had come…
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