Deseret News | HIV diagnoses up 32% in Utah

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HIV diagnoses up 32% in Utah

Risky Business | 3:22 a.m. May 30, 2008

Seems there are some inherently dangerous behaviors that the public needs to be made aware of and educated about so they can avoid them.

Jeff | 7:58 a.m. May 30, 2008

This is interesting considering the recent flap over the teacher responding to questions about masturbation. Talking about behaviors that don't lead to HIV must be very bad.

Very Sad | 8:01 a.m. May 30, 2008

I have spent a fair amount of time in HIV infested Africa and this is sad to see happening here in Utah. I am sure we know better. Eliminate the promiscuity and chances are you can avoid this disease. Can you do that? Be wise. What can I say more?

Comments continue below

re: the teacher flap | 8:38 a.m. May 30, 2008

This is more interesting as regards that, since 2/3 of the reported cases have involved male-to-male sexual contact or drug use, and quite often both. Even more may have contracted it through male-to-male contact but have not reported it.

While it is obviously quite important to remember that AIDS does not discriminate between homosexuals and heterosexuals, it is also important to remember that certain lifestyle choices make the transmission of STDs far more likely. Assuming that homosexual men make up roughly 2% of the population (assuming 4% is homosexual and men, obviously, are half of that - no solid numbers exist to my knowledge, so forgive the estimate), then it would seem that this portion of the population is disproportionately affected by AIDS due strictly to their own behaviors, and CDC and Utah health statistics will show that this has been the case ever since it broke out.

Perhaps, then, schools should remind students that choosing to live a homosexual lifestyle for men involves vastly increased risks of contracting STDs. It's hard to argue otherwise when one examines the numbers.

Of course, since the left now all but demands the schools recruit for such a lifestyle, it won't happen.

Joe Moe | 8:56 a.m. May 30, 2008

@Very Sad.

You're right, but understated. "Eliminate the promiscuity and chances are you can avoid this disease."

Try this: eliminate the promiscuity and don't inject drugs in your body and you are virtually guaranteed not to get HIV, or many other diseases.

That fact can't be argued.

There is more than one reason to be abstinent, faithful in marriage, and avoid drugs.

And please, reactionaries, don't interpret that as saying that promiscuous people "deserve" it. I certainly don't feel that way. I think it is tragic. But it is the reality.

Education | 8:57 a.m. May 30, 2008

I'm a firm believer that education of any topic that can't be taught in school MUST be taught in the home. Parents need to educate themselves and then their children. Look at the ages of the group where this disease is spreading, how many could have been prevented if the parents stood up and taught their children?

speaking of schools | 9:03 a.m. May 30, 2008

How about we stop sticking our heads in the sand and telling kids to just not have sex. While that may be a noble goal, it is not realistic. We need to remind people that when they just can't resist the urges, don't turn a night of indiscretion into a lifetime of bad consequences. Condoms are cheap and prevent most disease and pregnancies. Why can't Utah schools even mention this fact anymore? All they can say is "don't do it". Well kids still do it all the time and end up ruining their lives.

Tia | 9:03 a.m. May 30, 2008

Here's an idea...talk about condoms. I want to see the study of where people who had sexual intercourse (with same-sex or the other sex) used a condom and still got HIV. No, condoms are not 100%, but they sure cut down the chances of contracting something. A lot of teens and young adults are too embarassed to buy condoms in Utah because of the stigma that comes with it. So when they sleep together...they aren't prepared.

Talk to your kids, educate them about being safe if they make the decision to engage in sexual activity.

Condoms | 9:36 a.m. May 30, 2008

Condoms are not a panacea. They fail - and with a high enough level of frequency to give pause.

Do they cut down on the transmission of STDs and pregnancy? Sure. Perhaps it's even wise to teach more about them. But the fact remains that they fail, and fail even more often during male homosexual intercourse.

Although it is doubtful that STDs could ever be completely or nearly completely eradicated, true solutions lie in social mores. A brief look at statistics from sources like the CIA World Factbook shows that those countries who have the strongest social mores against extramarital sex and who have societies who actually enforce the mores have, not shockingly, extremely low rates of AIDS and other STDs compared to those countries without such mores.

It's time to teach children to be responsible for their actions and not to depend on artificial devices to save the day. I'm not saying condoms should be banned from the curriculum - I'm saying that responsibility should be even more strongly encouraged. Actions have consequences - it's time kids learned that, and society at large should help rather than hinder this.

Condoms, cont. | 9:46 a.m. May 30, 2008

Of course, I am not advocating that Utah adopt the governing practices of, say, Saudi Arabia (although numerous lame posters will, no doubt, make that assertion).

I am saying that when faced with adult decisions, children should be encouraged and expected to act as adults - to weigh the consequences and to make responsible choices based on them. Claims that they "cannot resist the natural urge" or were simply "born this way" and cannot help their risky actions are supported by media, common culture and educators today. Sorry, but it's just not so - people can and do make decisions about how to live their lives, and do put themselves in bad spots.

Teach children that they are responsible for themselves, that victimhood is not desirable, and that they bear the consequences of their choices, not that their urges are insurmountable or determined at birth.

Re: Condoms | 9:52 a.m. May 30, 2008

I find your argument a little weak. Seatbelts do not prevent all car accident deaths, but you are certainly better off wearing one. Condoms will not save everyone, but if they can prevent 80-90% of STD and pregnancy, why wouldn't you use one? I am not saying to teach kids, "just use a condom and do whatever you want". But we can teach them that if you are going to participate in a dangerous activity anyway, at least make it as safe as you can.

I am not sure about your other arguments, either. Utah has one of the strongest "social mores" against homosexuality and premarital sex due to the local dominant religion, and yet we have the same or greater rates of STD and teen pregnancy as the rest of the country.

Tia | 9:52 a.m. May 30, 2008

Ok, Mr. Condoms...that's what is already being taught to these kids. Responsibility, abstinence, etc. Are they still getting HIV?

YES.

Why not throw in a condom to protect themselves and others?

improved sex education | 9:52 a.m. May 30, 2008

How about having real sex education in school and not suspend teachers from answering students questions truthfully and factually. Parents can sign the wavers to decide whether they want their children to be ignorant or not. Why not even offer parents to come in and get the education as well.

All forms of prevention should be discussed: abstinence, condoms, birth control, oral sex. It should also be discussed and clarified of what actually can help prevent/reduce the risk of STDs and what has no impact on change. I'm sure there are many Utahns out there that actually believe the birth control pill protects from STDs.

assumptions galore | 10:08 a.m. May 30, 2008

Don't assume that kids don't know about condoms just because the school doesn't teach it. Condoms are common knowledge to nearly every teen ager. Before assuming this has anything to do with schools teaching about condoms, get me the numbers on how many high school age kids got aids. It looks like the problem involves homosexuality and drug use. Logical minds would consentrate on those issues to lower the cases.

Anonymous | 10:08 a.m. May 30, 2008

Condoms are extremely effective when used properly (as is abstinence, bcp, etc).

The scare tactic refrain, "they aren't 100%, so lets not talk about them" is simply the height of idiocy.

And its killing children.

If sexually active young people used condoms, and were encouraged to use them IF THEY ARE SEXUALLY ACTIVE, the rate of pregnancy, STDs and HIV infection would tank.

Period.

But we have people too wrapped up in themselves and their own dogma to do the right thing. It's shameful, really.

Utah statistics | 10:09 a.m. May 30, 2008

Utah's teen pregnancy and STD rates actually lag behind the rest of the U.S. according to the CDC. Des News won't let you post a URL (why?) but you can google cdc nchhstp state profiles utah 2007 profile and see the CDC's numbers for yourself.

Regarding infections per 100,000 people, Utah was:
46th in Chlamydia infections in 2005
43rd in Gonorrhea
42 in Syphilis

38th in new AIDS cases (which appears to be in absolute numbers - Utah is ranked 34 in population, so this is admittedly high)

Also, according to data from statehealthfacts.org, only 6% of AIDS cases in Utah through 2006 were the result of heterosexual contact compared to 14% nationwide. These numbers, however, do not include the 2008 statistics recently released and discussed in the article.

So, for those claiming "Utah is just as bad as the rest of the U.S.", I'd like to see the proof of that in actual statistics.

Heck, if Utah's education is truly abstinence only (I didn't go to high school here, so I don't know), it seems to be doing a rather good job what with the extremely low transmission of STDs. Not that I advocate abstinence only education, of course.

Naï¿½ve State of Utah | 10:14 a.m. May 30, 2008

The state of Utah has got to be the most naï¿½ve state in the US. This article simply adds to infinite list of proof. People in the 'Utah-Bubble' need to WAKE-UP - THIS IS REAL LIFE!!

How about some FACTS... | 11:26 a.m. May 30, 2008

I looked at the Utah Department of Health's website and on it, it shows that STDs (including HIV) are steadily on the rise here in Utah. Just looking at the gonorrhea cases from 2001 (227 cases) to 2007 (888 cases) we can see a huge jump there. Also, the number of early stage syphilis numbers doubled from 2005 to 2006.

These are numbers, and they are only cases that are diagnosed. How many more people are infected and do not go get tested, out of fear or ignorance or stigma?

Most of these responses are based on personal viewpoints and opinions, and not actual cases that are occurring. It's too early to say if 2008 will show a marked increase in HIV diagnoses in Utah, or if it will be similar to 2007. I hope there are news reports either way, because what needs to happen is an increase in AWARENESS, not judgment.

If someone is at risk (any sexual activity, sharing needles, etc.) they need to go get tested. Health care providers can offer testing and treatment, and that's the only way infected individuals will be diagnosed to help stop the spread of STDS/HIV.

re: How about some FACTS | 12:17 p.m. May 30, 2008

It seems you are citing raw, absolute numbers, not actual statistics. Given Utah's growing population, it is only natural that STD cases should increase.

The real question is as to what percentage of the population has become infected. Looking at the numbers in the 10:09 AM post, it seems that those statistics are quite low when compared to national statistics.

Sadly, the reason for the increase in STDs is all too often a lack of judgment on those who have them. Perhaps if more people were aware that bad judgment led to STDs, fewer people would have them.

The only way to stop the spread of STDs is to live a responsible lifestyle. Condoms and other means can lessen the spread, yes, but to truly stop the spread, a commitment to not engage in extra marital sexual relations for each person's whole life would be necessary, and even then it would not be sufficient.

Agreed, but still... | 1:13 p.m. May 30, 2008

Utah's population is growing, but the gonorrhea and syphilis rates jumped up at much higher rates than the state's population increase. There are probably lots of reasons attributing to the numbers going up, but there is no doubt MORE disease here than in previous years.

I looked up a CDC report on gonorrhea, and it said that even though Utah's numbers are low compared to other states, the increase in such a short period of time is what's concerning.

The main issues are that 1) people need to be aware of what activities/behaviours lead to disease transmission and 2) people who are at risk should get tested regularly.

There are lots of places that people can go to get accurate information on STDs, as well as getting tested.

When we talk about things like "bad judgment" perhaps the more appropriate wording would be "choices"--that word change alone lessens the bias.

Bias? | 1:58 p.m. May 30, 2008

Sorry to go off on a tangent, but this is pure semantics - a choice is the result of bad judgment. People judge one behavior to either be better or worse than the other and make decisions (choices) based on those judgments.

Promiscuity is the result of bad judgment leading to bad choices. There is a "good" choice and "good" judgment - those that lead to disease free life.

And people will judge one another. While I think it is fundamentally wrong to judge someone based simply on, say, a disease they carry (I have no idea how they caught it) or the color of their skin, it is acceptable to judge people on their choices so long as you hold yourself to the same judgment.

As to the absolute increase in disease, I wonder what role the illegal immigrant community has in this? I don't doubt that native Utahans bear some of the burden as well, but these STDs are much, much more prevalent in Latin America than they are in the U.S. - I wonder if the spike is the result of a recent increase in immigration? That's pure conjecture at the moment, of course.

Hmm.. | 2:05 p.m. June 3, 2008

Gay people need moral guidance and direction too. Instead, they are cast out of our "moral" society by those who throw stones at them. Let's stop kicking them out of our homes and families and accept them for who they are as individuals (We can't all be the same. We are all different in some way). Start treating them as Jesus would. Love them nurture them protect them. Give them the same tools to make good decisions that our "moral" society gets.
I have an Idea .. Let's all have the right to marry who we choose and hold all people accountable for their actions through the laws of marriage.
Just a thought. We all need equality here.

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