The HIV seroprevalence among women aged 15-24 years was compared according to their pattern of contraceptive use in four African countries: Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Data were derived from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 2003 and 2006 on representative samples, totaling 4549 women.

It is indicated that users of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) have a significantly higher seroprevalence than nonusers [odds ratio (OR)=1.82, 95% CI=1.63-2.03] and higher than users of oral contraceptives and users of traditional methods. The results were confirmed in a multivariate analysis including as controls, age, duration since first intercourse, urban residence, education, number of sexual partners in the last 12 months and marital status.

For full article, visit:
http://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(08)00061-9/abstract

There are over 200 videos available on-line on the following subjects: Reproductive Health, Fistula, Population and Development, Gender Equality, Humanitarian Response, Human Rights, Adolescents & Youth, Safe Motherhood, Culturally Sensitive Approaches, HIV/AIDS, Advocacy, Reproductive Health Commodities, International Conference on Population and Development.

For full article, visit:

http://video.unfpa.org/

Geneva, Switzerland, UNAIDS, 2007 Dec. 50 p. (UNAIDS/07.27E / JC1322E)

Every day, over 6800 persons become infected with HIV and over 5700 persons die from AIDS, mostly because of inadequate access to HIV prevention and treatment services. The HIV pandemic remains the most serious of infectious disease challenges to public health.

Nonetheless, the current epidemiologic assessment has encouraging elements since it suggests: the global prevalence of HIV infection (percentage of persons infected with HIV) is remaining at the same level, although the global number of persons living with HIV is increasing because of ongoing accumulation of new infections with longer survival times, measured over a continuously growing general population; there are localized reductions in prevalence in specific countries; a reduction in HIV-associated deaths, partly attributable to the recent scaling up of treatment access; and a reduction in the number of annual new HIV infections globally.

Examination of global and regional trends suggests the pandemic has formed two broad patterns: generalized epidemics sustained in the general populations of many sub-Saharan African countries, especially in the southern part of the continent; and epidemics in the rest of the world that are primarily concentrated among populations most at risk, such as men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, sex workers and their sexual partners.

For full article, visit:

http://data.unaids.org/pub/EPISlides/2007/2007_epiupdate_en.pdf

A new report from Malawi shows that comprehensive sex education plays an essential role in protecting young people from unintended pregnancy and HIV. The report is based on data from a 2004 nationally representative survey of 4,031 adolescents aged 12-19. Additionally, it draws on findings from 102 in-depth interviews and 11 focus group discussions with adolescents from both urban and rural areas.

For full report, visit:

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2007/12/10/PNG_Malawi.pdf

In Ethiopia, it can be dangerous for a girl to leave the house. Not because of war, or weather, but “weddings”—specifically the long-standing cultural tradition of marriage by abduction.
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The Kaiser Video Library is a free, online service for journalists around the world who report on public health issues.

The goal of the video library is to provide television reporters and filmmakers — particularly in low and middle income countries — with another tool to accomplish their work. The library provides rights-free cover footage related to HIV/AIDS. Generic cover footage is also included. The clip reels are organized by region, and within each clip reel there are sub-categories to guide journalists through the range of material available. A preview of each clip reel can be screened online. Full length clip reels can then be ordered in a variety of different formats. The library will be updated periodically as new material becomes available. Journalists who have material related to AIDS and other public health issues such as malaria and tuberculosis that they would like to contribute can contact VideoLibrary@KFF.org. The following organizations have generously contributed material to this library: Family Health International, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, and the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on the Public Broadcasting System.

http://topics.developmentgateway.org/hiv/rc/ItemDetail.do~1121756?intcmp=914

Getting the message across: the mass media and the response to AIDS

UNAIDS BEST PRACTICE COLLECTION. Because of their central position in people’s lives, the mass media have unrivalled potential to inform and educate the general public. Yet in the response to AIDS only a tiny fraction of that potential has been tapped. In surveys around the world, radio and television are cited as key sources of information about AIDS by large numbers of people. But although there are examples of imaginative and highly successful campaigns, by and large, media coverage of the epidemic is not sufficient to keep the public well informed.

There are still millions of people who have never heard of AIDS, and many more who harbour serious misconceptions about the disease. UNAIDS has been encouraging greater involvement of the mass media in responding to the epidemic. It recently produced a report, The Media and HIV/AIDS: Making a difference, which highlights the many ways in which media organizations can make an impact.

Besides offering channels for the communication of public health information and messages, the media can, for example: stimulate and lead open and frank discussion of HIV and AIDS; provide a platform for those most affected by the epidemic to air their concerns and views, especially people living with the virus; challenge stigma and discrimination by providing accurate information about HIV and AIDS, and positive images and role models of infected and affected people; encourage leaders to take action, and keep policy-makers and service providers on their toes; help create an enabling environment for prevention of HIV infection, and a supportive environment for the care of people living with the virus; take steps to give the epidemic the attention it deserves on the news agenda, and to prevent “AIDS fatigue” or complacency from allowing this attention to slip; build capacity through partnerships that allow for the sharing and transfer of skills and expertise with others.

For full article, visit:

http://data.unaids.org/publications/irc-pub06/jc1094-mediasa-bp_en.pdf

UNAIDS BEST PRACTICE COLLECTION. Because of their central position in people’s lives, the mass media have unrivalled potential to inform and educate the general public. Yet in the response to AIDS only a tiny fraction of that potential has been tapped. In surveys around the world, radio and television are cited as key sources of information about AIDS by large numbers of people. But although there are examples of imaginative and highly successful campaigns, by and large, media coverage of the epidemic is not sufficient to keep the public well informed.

There are still millions of people who have never heard of AIDS, and many more who harbour serious misconceptions about the disease. UNAIDS has been encouraging greater involvement of the mass media in responding to the epidemic. It recently produced a report, The Media and HIV/AIDS: Making a difference, which highlights the many ways in which media organizations can make an impact.

For full article, visit:

http://data.unaids.org/publications/irc-pub06/jc1094-mediasa-bp_en.pdf

Bringing HIV Prevention to Scale: An Urgent Global Priority - Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 28, 2007 – In a new report released today, a panel of leading AIDS experts calls for a major scale-up of global HIV prevention programs, citing new data projecting that expanded access to prevention could avert approximately 30 million of the 60 million HIV infections expected to occur by 2015.

The report, released by the Global HIV Prevention Working Group, warns that prevention efforts are not keeping pace with the gains being made in treating people infected with HIV. For every person who began antiretroviral therapy in 2006, six people were newly infected. “We need to make the same gains in HIV prevention that we are making in HIV treatment,” said Helene Gayle, M.D., M.P.H., president and CEO of CARE USA and co-chair of the Working Group.

For full article, visit:

http://www.globalhivprevention.org/june_release.html

Kano, Nigeria – On July 31, 2007 Population Media Center (PMC) will launch its second social content radio serial drama in Nigeria. Through the use of character role-models, the drama aims to enhance knowledge and utilization of existing health services, provide important information about reproductive health and general health issues, encourage use of family planning, promote delaying marriage and childbearing until adulthood, promote small family norms, provide information about HIV transmission, and motivate people to take actions to improve their health and the health of their families. PMC will air 234 episodes over two years.

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