In 1998 Green wrote an article about the apparent success of what he calls "primary behavior change"--more abstinence and fewer partners, as opposed to condom use and STD treatment--in slowing HIV transmission in the Dominican Republic, only to have it turned down by four academic journals..."
Quite bizarre, and an indication that it might be time for some new journals, ones less rooted in the academic world, to open up.
I would expect, though, that it might be easier to find funding - certainly American funding - for actual programs emphasizing abstinence and fidelity.
It is most important, I think, that the program for any given country be appropriate to the actual conditions in that country, rather than appropriate to the ideological biases of scholars and funding agencies. That's hardly likely to happen, though.
I'd be interested in seeing some studies correlating sexual behaviour to political stability. I'm wondering if people are more likely to be promiscuous in highly unstable environments, on the general theory that one should eat, drink and be merry to the greatest extent possible today if it seems likely that one will be starved, shot, blown up or otherwise removed from the picture in the near future. I would guess - and this is only a guess - that a reasonably stable political environment and the absence of violent conflict would be important factors in persuading people to make forward-looking decisions. |
