Boston Globe Editorial - Abstinence and AIDS

Boston Globe Editorial - Abstinence and AIDS
The Boston Globe
Published: December 1, 2006


From Africa, the continent most afflicted with the AIDS epidemic, the news was mixed at best on World AIDS Day on Friday. But in the United States, the nation that surpasses all others in its AIDS funding in Africa, there is one solid piece of good news. Thanks to the change of power in Congress, U.S.-financed prevention programs could be freed of the requirement that one-third of all their funding go to abstinence-only efforts.

There is a definite role for abstinence, especially among the young, where the training has been shown in some cases to delay the age of first sexual activity. Abstinence-only programs, however, are of little help to some of those most vulnerable to infection, including impoverished young women under pressure to have sex for economic or cultural reasons.

The changeover in Congress will greatly improve the prospects of a bill sponsored by Representative Barbara Lee of California. Lee's bill would direct President George W. Bush to develop a full strategy to reduce the high risk of HIV infection faced by women and girls in developing countries. In southern Africa, 76 percent of infected persons between age 15 and 24 are female.

Lee's bill calls for greater access to female condoms and better educational opportunities for young women. The measure's sheer scope might endanger its chances in the Senate, where the Democratic margin is hair- thin, but it should be possible for both houses at least to agree on eliminating the abstinence-only earmark.

A report this year by the Government Accountability Office showed that U.S. officials working in AIDS prevention overseas found the abstinence earmark confusing and difficult to balance with other programs. Another problem is the administration policy opposing needle-exchange programs, which would be effective in countries where many HIV infections are related to drug use. Reversing that policy might require a change in the White House, but it would be a welcome first step in improving the U.S. role in preventing AIDS if Congress drops the abstinence earmark.