Top 5 Positive Facts About HIV/AIDS Prevention

Despite the dark cloud of fear that the HIV virus has cast, there have been some breakthroughs that are causing many to cheer. Here, the five most positive facts to help us believe that one day the world just might become HIV/AIDS free:

#1 Infection rates are down
Since peaking in the mid-1980s, the number of Americans infected with HIV has dropped from 130,000 per year to an estimated 56,300 – still a considerably high number. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the decline is due to prevention efforts taken including long-awaited research advances, record-high HIV testing rates in the United States and a bold new national HIV/AIDS strategy to reduce the burden of the disease.

#2 Pope encourages condom use (in certain situations) to prevent spread of HIV/AIDS
Last month, Pope Benedict XVI took a departure from the Catholic Church's long-opposed use of condoms because it's a form of artificial contraception to encourage its 1.166 billion followers to use them as a method to prevent spreading the AIDS virus. The pontiff continues to stand by the church's belief that abstinence and marital fidelity are the only ways to prevent HIV.

#3 Vaginal gel significantly reduces HIV infection
In July, a new study in South Africa revealed that a vaginal microbicide gel containing the drug tenofovir reduced HIV risk among women by 39 percent. Another surprise discovery is that the gel, which could become available in the U.S. in 2013, also reduced the risk of genital herpes infection.

#4 Truvada pill reduces odds of HIV infections in men
A study released last week found that daily intake of Truvada, a pill containing two HIV antiretroviral medications, reduced HIV risk among gay and bisexual men when used with other prevention methods, including condoms. This approach is called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and the CDC is currently partnering with federal agencies to develop guidelines for the use of PrEP among gay and bisexual men in this country.

#5 Rise in funding health programs in poor countries
According the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), the amount of money public and private donors give for health assistance for developing countries has risen from $5.66 billion in 1990 to $26.87 billion in 2010. HIV/AIDS programs are the most funded of all of the health programs, according to the IHME.

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