High-risk Heterosexuals Research Articles

What is a condom worth

In this study, we propose a framework for assessing the economic value of condoms and provide estimates of the potential societal savings, in the form of decreased HIV-related medical care and lost productivity costs, that accrue from use of condoms. A probabilistic model of HIV transmission was used to estimate reductions in HIV risk attributable to condom use. This estimate was combined with an estimate of the cost to society of a single case of HIV infection to determine a lower bound for the potential societal savings associated with condom use. Several condom use scenarios were considered (including multiple uses with a single partner and multiple uses with multiple partners) for each of three populations: low-risk heterosexuals, high-risk heterosexuals, and men who have sex with men. The savings exceeded the estimated cost of producing and distributing condoms in all but one of the scenarios considered. For multiple condom uses, the per-condom savings ranged from about 50¢ for low-risk heterosexuals to over $500 for multi-partnered men who have sex with men.

Prevalence of HIV antibody in high and low risk groups in England. Public Health Laboratory Service Working Group.

Most studies of the spread of HIV infection have centred on homosexuals and intravenous drug users. To estimate the extent of infection in different groups, including heterosexuals, the prevalence of HIV antibody was studied in 34,222 subjects tested with consent between October 1986 and December 1987 in England. These included subjects in high risk groups for HIV infection, heterosexuals with partners in the high risk groups and heterosexuals with multiple partners or with no identifiable risk factors. The prevalence was highest in homosexual or bisexual men in London (15.1%; 213/1412), being 4.0% (146/3607) outside London. The yearly incidence of infection in 632 homosexual or bisexual men without HIV antibody when retested during the study period was 3%. Among intravenous drug users the prevalence of HIV antibody was 5.7% (36/633) in London and 1.5% (39/2562) outside. Of 3272 heterosexual subjects tested, whose partner was in a risk group, eight of 515 (1.6%) in London and six of 2757 (0.2%) outside were positive for the antibody. Among 20,455 heterosexuals with a history of multiple partners or with no declared risk, only six subjects with HIV antibody were identified, two of whom had been infected abroad. Heterosexual spread of infection in England is evidently still largely confined to subjects whose partner has an identifiable risk.