Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 13:28:21 -0500

From: Valerie Scotella <staywell2002@AOL.COM>

Subject: Re: Risk continuum for HIV

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Please know that the above-referenced subject is, as are many of our subject= s are on this listserv are, potentially dangerous to discuss on line because= of everyone's personal beliefs which cannot help but becoming part of their= professional opinions. This response is not intended to be personal, moral= istic or even as scientific as it should be, but rather just to stir this po= ol of amazing talent and brain power we share here and hopefully, a way to r= esolve this health care crisis we all face as Public Health Educators (PHEs)= can be concocted from this 'brew'.=20 =20 Here is just a suggestion (as always, if you disagree with or if this topic=20= is of no interest to you, feel free to hit DELETE key):

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

++

=20

=20

Instead of trying to preach abstinence to adults, which for the most part, i= s pointless since decisions to do what one wishes with one's own body is in=20= effect partially which makes us adults, perhaps our focus as PHEs should be=20= on promoting "monogamy" (not as in 'marriage monogamy' per se' as this, too,= has mostly become a thing of the past, but rather as in having safe sex wit= h your same partner with HIV and other STD testing before and after switchin= g partners) to our current population.

=20

Genetically speaking*, certain people might argue that men are pre-disposed=20= to having more than one sexual partner in a lifetime. Realistically, both=20= women and men have to meet that same demand. Hence, the quagmire of sex out= side of 'couple hood' which creates the very public health risks which we PH= Es are rightly concerned about wherein STDs are being spread unknowingly thr= oughout all types of sexual persuasions/practices/preferences.

=20

This does not take into account all of the moral issues that go along with t= he subject of sexuality as morality is best left outside our focus as PHEs f= or right now if only for the sake of e-mail brevity and reduced emotional e-= mail discourse.

=20

Having said that, it is important to note that statistically marriage is qui= ckly falling by the wayside as an optimal means of 'guaranteeing' sexual act= ivity on a daily basis; acting QUICKLY on instinctual lust is currently the=20= most popular way of sexual activity for many and much like the very STDs we=20= are trying to control the spread of, this behavior has spread to the general= population.=20 =20 Right now, the media and the Internet promote meeting and shall we say 'gree= ting' as many sexual partners in a 'day' as one can find time for. Therefore= , it seems ludicrous to worry which 'kisses' are safe and which 'kisses' are= not safe since micro managing sexual behavior of our species may in fact ca= use the very "prevention fatigue" Jorge expresses concern about (see below).

=20

Perhaps focusing on the benefits of a monogamous sexual relationship in addi= tion to defining the risks of indiscriminate sexual behavior in a manner in=20= which the average person can understand it, might work towards correcting th= e current 'attitude' that sexual promiscuity =3D safe sex simply because the= public believes "everyone" is seemingly "doing it."

=20

With all due respect to PHEs and to our profession, until such time that the= media including the Internet act responsibly and engage in accordance with=20= PHEs by 'spreading' the public health messages to the masses, instead of glo= rifying animalistic sexual activity amongst the human species as being the '= way to be', we are going to be battling STDs in all segments of our society,= including but not limited to the previously considered 'safe sex rituals' o= f mutual masturbation, fingering, etc, which still have the potential of spr= eading diseases, HIV or otherwise.

=20

If we can spread the common cold by sneezing on a bus, it is conceivable we=20= can spread any STD in a variety of seemingly 'safe-sex' fashions and not sim= ply by unprotected sexual intercourse or other high risk behaviors.

=20

If we limit our discussion to HIV, then it is a wholly different matter. How= ever then it would appear our efforts to preach certain sexual behaviors as=20= being "safe sex" BUT 'ONLY' if you are concerned about the transmission of H= IV, versus other sexual behaviors as being "unsafe", then become counter-pro= ductive to the discussion of "high risk sexual behaviors" in general.

=20

As PHEs, we must be concerned about the transmission of all STDs be it HIV,=20= HPV, herpes or whatever you care to discuss because they are all potentially= problematic in the current world of indiscriminate sexual activity. =20 =20 Obviously, most adults already know they are taking a risk when they have se=

x with someone they do not know is STD free. What is it that we can tell t=

hem as PHEs they don't already know (and seemingly aren't even concerned abo=

ut) that will make them think VERY CAREFULLY about taking these risks each a= nd every time the animal inside of us wishes to pounce on another human bein= g without going for any screenings or testing first?

=20

If you have the ultimate answer to the 'safe sex' issue, please share it now= .=20 =20 Because this is the point we, as PHEs, must aim our focus so we can change a= ttitudes about sexual promiscuity in general. To do so will require a compil= ation of efforts with the assistance from other health care providers, genet= ic and neuro-scientists and other educators so that we truly understand the=20= genetics, brain chemistry, morality and various other things that make us de= cide, as humans, whether or not to take the risk and 'greet' another human i= n any fashion so that we can target this point and 'inject' any PHE message=20= right at the actual pysiological root of this problem.

=20

THINK: Why do you as an adult not surrender to your sexual urges every momen= t of the day? Say you are not married and/or do not have the habit of public= fornication. What is it that stops you from taking every single offer you r= eceive and or could easily obtain for sex during the day? Assume you are on=20= a vacation with no family around, a hotel room and plenty of access to membe= rs of the opposite sex. In other words, remove all commonly held understand= able objections to this type of shall we say animalistic sexual behavior and= concentrate on what it is that stops you from acting out on those desires.=20= And why don't we have multiple sex partners at the same time and homosexual=20= and bisexual experiences if we are not otherwise so inclined? Morality? Say=20= your brethren will never know. Now what is it that we fear? =20 =20 Survival of the fittest?

=20

Self-preservation?=20

=20

One body for life?=20

=20

Just stirring; no need to respond.

=20

Thank you for your time today. :-)

=20

*NOTE: MEAN GENES, Burnham, Terry and Phelan, Jay, Perseus Publishing, 2000= , p.132:

=20

Human males show little hesitancy to engage in casual sex. In a s= tudy of college students, 75% of men expressed a willingness to have sex whe= n propositioned by a femal experimenter of average attractiveness. (Many of=20= the men who declined actually apologized.) How many women said yes to the sa= me question when asked by a male experimenter? Not one.

=20

From: geoffzuck@AOL.COM

To: HEDIR-L@listserv.siu.edu

Sent: Thu, 2 Nov 2006 3:49 PM

Subject: Fwd: Risk continuum for HIV

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=20

=20

=20

-----Original Message-----

From: JorgeFigueroa@Whatswhat.org

To: geoffzuck@aol.com

Sent: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 8:13 AM

Subject: RE: Risk continuum for HIV

I think this is counterproductive. I would not list kissing (deep or otherw= ise)=20 as a risk behavior. There is a point of prevention fatigue where people sta= rt=20 thinking everything is a risk and then become numb to prevention efforts. =20 Likewise while the mutual masturbation and =E2=80=9Cfingering=E2=80=9D refer= enced below involve=20 bodily fluids and thus may pose some theoretical risk. To my knowledge ther= e=20 are no documented cased of infection by this mechanism. Even if there were,= it=20 gets back to the likelihood being lower than that of being struck by lighten= ing=20 while being attacked by a shark.

=20

Even when discussing oral sex =E2=80=93 I discuss the risk as being low and=20= requiring=20 direct access to the bloodstream (i.e. open sore. Cut, etc) Saliva is an=20 unfriendly host to the HI virus and certainly it could not survive GI fluids= =20 -thus I also endorse swallowing ;-) But I would rather have the focus be on= an=20 open wounds, cuts etc (in the mouth hand or any other body part exposed to=20 fluids). I do know a guy who got infected engaging in what he thought was s= afe=20 sex. He had just shaved his genitals (as part of foreplay) and had the guy=20= cum=20

on him. Unfortunately he had nicked himself in the process and provided a=20

pretty direct route into his bloodstream. So should we include shaving as a= =20 high risk behavior?

=20

Jorge

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#826

Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 12:37:27 -0600

From: LaTonya Steward <LaTonya.Steward@ARKANSAS.GOV>

Subject: Health Resource Templates

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Hello colleagues,

I am the state BRFSS coordinator for Arkansas. I am interested in health education templates for press releases, fact sheets, and brochures by health topic area. For example , I have lots of information by topic area and would love to start doing more press releases, fact sheets, and brochures. Are there any templates available that you would like to share? If so, please send by email. Thanks.

Contact:

LaTonya R. Steward

Arkansas BRFSS Coordinator

Survey Section, Health Statistics Branch Division of Health, Arkansas DHHS P. O. BOX 1437, SLOT H19 (mailing)

4815 West Markham Street (physical)

Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437

---------------------------------------------

501-661-2003 (phone)

501-661-2544 (fax)

---------------------------------------------

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:

The information contained in this e-mail message and any attachment is the property of the State of Arkansas and may be protected by state and federal laws governing disclosure of private information. It may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from disclosure. It is intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that reading, copying or distributing this e-mail or the information herein by anyone other than the intended recipient is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. The sender has not waived any applicable privilege by sending the accompanying transmission. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail immediately, and delete this message and attachments from your computer.

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#827

Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 13:47:52 -0500

From: Valerie Scotella <staywell2002@AOL.COM>

Subject: Re: Risk continuum for HIV--copied from the INTERNET/AOL

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AOL.comMailAIMGet Free AOL Mail=20

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Updated:2006-11-01 12:03:11

Study Dispels Some Sexual Behavior Myths By MARIA CHENG AP LONDON (Nov. 1) - In the first comprehensive global study of sexual behavior= , British researchers found that people aren't losing their virginity at eve= r younger ages, married people have the most sex, and there is no firm link=20= between promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases.

The study was published Wednesday as part of a series on sexual and reproduc= tive health by the British medical journal The Lancet. Professor Kaye Wellin= gs of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicines and her colleagues= analyzed data from 59 countries.

Experts say the study will be useful not only in dispelling popular myths ab= out sexual behavior, but in shaping policies that will help improve sexual h= ealth across the world.

Researchers looked at published studies on sexual behavior in the last decad= e. They also used data from national governments worldwide. Wellings noted t= hat since the survey results were based on self-reporting, they could be sus= ceptible to error.

Wellings said she was surprised by some of the survey's results.

"We did have some of our preconceptions dashed," she said, explaining they h= ad expected to find the most promiscuous behavior in regions like Africa wit= h the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases. That was not the case,= as multiple partners were more commonly reported in industrialized countrie= s where the incidence of such diseases was relatively low.

"There's a misperception that there's a great deal of promiscuity in Africa,= which is one of the potential reasons for HIV/AIDS spreading so rapidly," s= aid Dr. Paul van Look, director of Reproductive Health and Research at the W= orld Health Organization, who was not connected to the study. "But that view= is not supported by the evidence."

Wellings says that implies promiscuity may be less important than factors su= ch as poverty and education - especially in the encouragement of condom use=20=

- in the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

The survey found that single men and women in Africa were fairly sexually in=

active: only two-thirds of them reported recent sexual activity, compared wi= th three-quarters of their counterparts in developed countries.

The study also found that contrary to popular belief, sexual activity is not= starting earlier. Nearly everywhere, men and women have their first sexual=20= experiences in their late teens - from 15 to 19 years old - with generally y= ounger ages for women than for men, especially in developing countries. That= is no younger than 10 years ago.

Still, there are considerable variations across countries. In the United Kin= gdom, for example, men and women tend to lose their virginity at ages 16 1/2= and 17 1/2 respectively. In comparison, men and women in Indonesia waited u= ntil they were 24 1/2 and 18 1/2 respectively.

Researchers also found that married people have the most sex, reporting enga= ging in sexual activity in the previous four weeks more frequently than sing= le people. There has also been a gradual shift to delay marriage, even in de= veloping countries.

While that has meant a predictable rise in the rates of premarital sex, expe= rts say this doesn't necessarily translate into more dangerous behavior.

In some instances, married women may be at more risk than single women.

"A single woman is more able to negotiate safe sex in certain circumstances=20= than a married woman," says van Look, who points out that married women in A= frica and Asia are often threatened by unfaithful husbands who frequent pros= titutes.

There is much greater equality between women and men with regard to the numb= er of sexual partners in rich countries than in poor countries, the study fo= und.

For example, men and women in Australia, Britain, France and the United Stat= es tend to have an almost equal number of sexual partners. In contrast, in C= ameroon, Haiti, and Kenya, men tend to have multiple partners while women te= nd only to have one.

This imbalance has significant public health implications.

"In countries where women are beholden to their male partners, they are like= ly not to have the power to request condom use, and they probably won't know= about their husbands' transgressions," said Wellings.

Because of the diversity of sexual habits worldwide, Wellings warns that no=20= single approach to sexual health will work everywhere. "There are very diffe= rent economic, religious and social rules governing sexual conduct across th= e world," she said.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP new= s report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed= without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyp= erlinks have been inserted by AOL.=20

10/31/06 21:59 EST

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#827

Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 19:39:02 -0500

From: Ken Packer <packer18@EARTHLINK.NET>

Subject: Contest Grant Money

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Thought someone might be interested in this money. What a great project for a health education graduate students. Good Luck.

Ken Packer

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Announces Games for Health Competition

Deadline: March 30, 2007

The Games for Health Competition will award prizes totaling $30,000 to entrants who develop game concepts or prototypes aimed at improving aspects of health and healthcare.

Three prizes will be awarded -- one for a working prototype and two for storyboard/design treatments.

Entrants in the storyboard/treatment competition will design a game that identifies a specific problem faced by healthcare providers (such as training staff to counsel family members or raising awareness about bone marrow donations) or address a significant health issue and offer potential strategies for addressing the problem. (Two prizes of $5,000

each.)

Participants in the prototype competition will develop working prototypes of a health-related game in a playable form. The games may be about any health or healthcare topic and could help with training, health education, disease management, prevention, or building general awareness and understanding. (One prize of $20,000.)

The competition is open to U.S. residents over the age of 18, including independent and collegiate developers, casual gamers, and organizations that are not commercial game publishers. Health and healthcare organizations, including schools of public health, healthcare nonprofits, and hospitals, are invited to enter. Entrants are encouraged to involve representatives from a healthcare organization, patient population, or other health- related audiences that would benefit from the game it designs in the concept development and execution.

Details on contest categories and application procedures may be found on the Games for Health Competition Web site.

RFP Link:

---------------

Kenneth L. Packer

41 Cardinal Dr., Washingtonville, NY 10992

(Work) 845-496-8698 (Home) 845-496-3708 (Fax) 845-496-0453

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