AFRO-NETS> RFI: Evidence Based AIDS interventions (4)

[Tefera Agizew <teferast@yahoo.com>]

RFI: Evidence Based AIDS interventions (4)
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Dear Julia,

Appreciating your motivation to work on HIV/AIDS control project pro-
posal.

Let me try to make some input towards the answer on your question "Is 
there any good evidence that knowledge in one's HIV status would help 
on reducing risk behavior when treatment with ARV is not avail- 
able?"

The are three thing that one can pick from your question 
1. HIV status 
2. Risk behaviour and 
3. Treatment with ARV. 

Risk behaviour is all about getting involved in to activities that 
may contribute either on giving or receiving the Virus. Now, the dif-
ference on being 'the actor' comes from willingness to practice risky 
behavior or not. If one wants to be fair on his/her practice knowing 
'the status' should be the first thing to be thought on. At least 
without knowing the HIV status one would (migth) not even feel guilty 
of doing risky practice. Let's not forget that with any single risky 
practice BOTH parties can be affected!!

So I would say yes, for those with fair mind - knowing the HIV status 
would help to decide on risky behavior and thus towards reduction. 
Not getting ARV treatment should not mean to be careless for others! 

Thanks,
Dr. Tefera B. Agizew
Epidemiology Unit, MOH
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267-390-7146
Fax: +267-390-6686
mailto:teferast@yahoo.com

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