In what is being termed as a ‘seismic shift’ of policy, finally, the Vatican has endorsed the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV infections. The church coming around to the view that their anti-birth control stance against condoms doesn’t justify putting someone’s life at risk could actually help in controlling the spread of the AIDS infection.
There is already good news coming in that connection – the UN Global report recently stated that the HIV epidemic is slowing with infections dropping by as much as 20% in the past decade.
Though the overall trend has shown a change of trajectory, it is still a very serious matter that 7,000 new infections are still being reported on a daily basis and worldwide, 33.3 million people are infected with HIV. Factors that have improved situations in areas such as Africa are increased condom use, abstinence and improved awareness of AIDS.
Another factor that has lowered rates of HIV infection is the antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV that have helped. A Boston based study showed that men at high HIV risk that took a pill that contained a blend of certain antiretroviral drugs were less likely to become infected.
