Students unaffected by seriousness of AIDS epidemic

AIDS kills 92 Americans every day. That means nearly 35,000 Americans die from AIDS every year. All told, almost 400,000 Americans have been diagnosed with the disease. And yet, according to a recent poll conducted by The Daily Pennsylvanian, only 48 percent of University students consistently use condoms during sexual intercourse. The DP's 60-question poll of 405 undergraduates focused on the sexual practices and social lives of University students. The sexual attitudes of University students, as revealed by the poll, indicate an acute lack of awareness of the causes of AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and other related sexually transmitted diseases. AIDS is caused by a virus known as the human immunodeficiency virus, or H.I.V. Most commonly, H.I.V. is spread by sharing needles or having sexual intercourse with H.I.V.-infected persons. H.I.V., which may be carried in the blood, semen, or vaginal secretions of an infected person, can also less frequently be transmitted through infected blood transfusions or birth by an infected mother. H.I.V. cannot be transmitted by insects, vaccines, or casual contact. According to information released by the Center for Disease Control, "in studies of households where families have lived with and cared for hundreds of AIDS patients?, no instances of nonsexual, nonblood, or nonperinatal transmission were found, despite the sharing of kitchen and bathroom facilities, meals, eating and drinking utensils, and even razors and toothbrushes." But casual sexual practices can result in transmission of the disease. "The only form of birth control that can prevent AIDS completely is abstinence," said Kirsten Middleton, Teencare Education coordinator for The Planned Parenthood Federation of America. For many college students, though, abstinence may not be a practical option. To limit the risk of H.I.V. infection, CDC proposes several alternatives to abstinence. Inquiring into the sexual history of partners, limiting the number of sexual partners and using only water-based condom lubricants can lower the risk of contracting H.I.V. and AIDS. The CDC also said that avoidance of alcohol and illicit drugs which impair both the immune system and judgement will help stop the spread of the disease. Only some of the CDC's recommendations have been taken seriously by students, however. When it comes to limiting the number of sexual partners, college students and in particular those at the University, appear to be hearing the message. Of those polled by the DP, 25.6 percent said they were virgins and 23.5 percent claimed they had only had one sexual partner. The call for everyone to use a latex condom during all sexual activity, even during oral sex, has not been well received by students, though. Nearly 72 percent of those engaging in oral sex claim they never use a condom. And an additional 13.6 percent responded they rarely use a condom during oral sex. Despite the massive educational outreach programs, teenagers appear to represent the fastest growing demographic group in new AIDS cases. Over 12,700 individuals between 20 and 24 have either H.I.V. or AIDS. Still, old stereotypes targeting homosexuals and drug users as the sole carriers of the virus persist. "The facts are that the next wave of the epidemic is moving towards adolescents," Middleton said. "But I think that the stereotype still holds true." According to Planned Parenthood statistics, AIDS is the leading cause of death among men 25 to 44 years of age in 38 percent of large cities. But men are not the only victims of the virus. Women make up 11 percent of the total number of reported AIDS cases, and in the past year alone, the incidence of cases in women has increased by 9.8 percent, according to statistics from the CDC. As of last March, 3,600 children, born to infected mothers, were reported to have AIDS. In addition, CDC reports say that more women have developed AIDS as a result of heterosexual activity than intravenous drug use as a result of sharing needles. In past years, this has not been the case. Of the total number of reported AIDS cases in the U.S., 183,344 have been homosexual men and 24,358 have been heterosexual men and women. More than 80,700 were a result of intravenous drug use and nearly 6,000 were caused by tainted blood transfusions, according to CDC statistics. Despite these cited increases, students' fear of AIDS remains relatively low. According to the recent sexual attitudes survey, 71 percent of undergraduates polled said if the condom breaks during sexual intercourse, they would be more concerned about pregnancy than AIDS. Only 24 percent claimed they would fear AIDS more than pregnancy. Options do exist for those who are concerned with the transmission of AIDS and H.I.V. The Women's Anonymous Test Site, located at 4019 Irving Street, offers free counseling and testing for students, faculty and other University-related personnel. "We take appointments now, because we were having difficulty with walk-ins," said Nancie Stanfill, a pre and post test counselor at the site. At this appointment, known as the pre-test counseling session, patients are helped in deciding whether or not to be tested. "If [a test is needed], we draw blood," Stanfill said. "Then they come for a return appointment the following week for a diagnosis and the opportunity for questions." The site, which is open Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., has anonymously tested approximately 30 people a week for the virus. In order to protect this anonymity, patients are identified only by a number, a feature which makes it impossible to trace the test back to the individual. But does the dramatic number of concerned students that have sought the site's help indicate an increased awareness about AIDS? "I believe so," Stanfill said. "The trend I'm seeing is that students are becoming more aware? But a lot of people are still misinformed." Planned Parenthood, the oldest reproductive health care organization, with 164 affiliates and 922 clinics across the country, is dedicated to reducing that misinformation. They have classes for parents and teens,workshops at schools, programs designed specifically for men or women and contraceptive clinics. In addition, they train teachers and nurses in sexually transmitted disease awareness. Planned Parenthood has 10 clinics in Eastern Pennsylvania, one on 12th and Locust streets, according to Middleton. As a result of the recent focus on AIDS and H.I.V., the Clinton Administration has designated an 18-member panel of scientists, doctors and advocates for AIDS patients to help the search for new drugs which may be able to combat H.I.V., according to a recent New York Times report. Currently, several drugs are available which can treat or prevent H.I.V.-related problems, but AIDS remains an incurable, fatal disease. Another result of the new focus on AIDS research, Jonathan Demme's recent film, Philadelphia, sparked great student interest and concern. Demme's movie is one of the first major motion picture attempts to approach the controversial subjects of AIDS and homosexuals in a sensitive and compelling manner. "Philadelphia presents an issue that has been ignored and neglected," College sophomore Sanjay Udoshi said. "I hope that Hollywood continues producing movies that address such important issues." H.I.V. and AIDS, which have increasingly become the subject of news and entertainment, is also the focus of a month-long awareness campaign at the University and across the nation. Window displays at the bookstore and the distribution of red ribbons by the Chi Omega sorority highlight the events. AIDS, as the month of February illustrates, is no longer only a disease of homosexuals and it is no longer relegated to hard-core drug users. That knowledge has become the focus of the latest educational outreach programs. AIDS, the world is learning, can affect anyone, anywhere.