India's response to AIDS has ranged from a 3-phase official surveillance program begun by the India Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 1985, to legislation criticized as "bigoted and superficial", to conflicting messages, panic and confusion. The ICMR has determined that HIV is transmitted mainly by heterosexual contacts in India. In the media the Director-General of the ICMR was cited as recommending that sex with foreign visitors be banned, as a way to contain the HIV epidemic. Media also reported that defective ELISA screening kits were imported into India that infection control in some hospitals is sub-optimal, that the blood and blood products supply is grossly contaminated with HIV and that certain commercial blood donors were infected from giving blood. All foreign students currently must be HIV-negative to get a visa. It is a major problem to plan an AIDS education campaign with India's large illiterate population and dozens of languages. An AIDS network is emerging incorporating ICMR, the All India Institute of Medical Science, the Central Health Education Bureau, Mother Teresa's order, and a newly formed gay awareness group with the newsletter "Bombay Dost."
Sex educational programs targeted toward boys and young men should be implemented in Sweden. 2 projects have been designed to improve sex education for boys. The 1st project provides sex education for males in a supportive environment. Through interviews, boys between 16-19 years in age revealed their sexual feelings and thoughts. As a result of identifying sexual concerns of boys, it was determined that magazines could effectively provide information to boys by integrating sexual fantasies with sexual facts. The 2nd project employs men to teach sex educators to boys. Sex educational programs should provide male adolescents with accurate information about HIV, AIDS-related issues, and positive, healthy sex practices.
This article reflects the experiences of a Red Cross worker in Kenya diagnosed as HIV positive. Before being diagnosed with AIDS in 1989, the author suffered from vomiting, diarrhea, stomach aches, loss of appetite, painful joints, and swollen glands. Upon the diagnosis of HIV infection, suicidal thoughts were considered. With the help of a counselor, the suicidal thoughts were replaced with positive thoughts. By sharing fears of the disease, death, and related issues, it is hopes that other HIV infected persons will be better able to cope with AIDS. An organization should be established in Kenya for AIDS patients in which they can share their experiences Positive thoughts and attitudes can serve as a source of strength for HIV infected patients.
Sex education should be oriented toward men and their role in healthy sex practices. By promoting condom usage as a contraceptive method and a preventive method against sexually transmitted diseases, family planning programs could effectively involve men in practicing safe sex. Some misconceptions among men about this contraceptive barrier include decreased sexual sensations during intercourse, partners being offended, and disruption of sexual intercourse. To increase their usage, programs must focus on creating a positive image of the condom. Advantages include no side-effects, easy use, and protection against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Proper condom use should be emphasized to increase its usage among men. Condoms could be made more accessible through vending machines or community-based distribution centers. Male sex and contraceptive knowledge may be further enhanced by employing males counselors to train man in contraceptive and preventive measures. 2 organizations which have effectively involved men in promoting safe sex are The Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) and The Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN). PPAG integrates sex and health education with recreation. FPAN promotes condom usage through health and social services, media, and condom dispensers. Through condom usage, men become more responsible sexual partners.
Although sex workers are often willing to utilize healthy sex practices, male clients should be made more aware of AIDS prevention and safe sex practices. Men have many misconceptions about safe sex methods. These misconceptions include believing that condoms reduce sexual pleasure; post-intercourse washing prevents infection; HIV transmission is not possible through anal or oral intercourse; and safe sex is associated with expensive sex. To improve their knowledge about safe sexual practices and to enhance their willingness to employ safe sex measures, sex education should be directed toward males who buy sex. To change the attitudes of male clients, programs should determine if these clients are local men or visitors. Information could then be supplied through local media which would reach male residents or through hotels or customs which are accessible to male visitors. Since sex workers often meet their clients in bars or hotels, AIDS information and condoms could be distributed from these locations. To change sex behaviors, programs must investigate current sexual practices to identify practices that are at less risk for AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Preventive information could also be supplied by the sex workers. Furthermore, low-cost condoms should be available to male clients and sex workers.
