Planned Parenthood Advocate

New Drug Approved for HIV Prevention

Earlier this month, the FDA approved a new drug in the fight against HIV, one that lowers the risk of transmitting the virus to a partner.  The drug, Truvada, is the first of its kind, working to prevent transmission in high risk communities before it happens. While this drug cannot totally eliminate the risk of contracting the virus, used in combination with other safe sex practices, this drug substantially alleviates the chance of contracting the virus.  One study found that correct use of the drug lowered the risk of contracting HIV by 75% in heterosexual couples and 42% in same-sex couples.  These findings mark a substantial milestone in the effort to reduce the spread of HIV.  Many in the public health community are hopeful that the approval of this drug will be able to reduce the rate at which the virus spreads.  Over the past 15 years, the rate of HIV infection has held steady at about 50,000 new cases per year in the US.

GOP Representatives Vote to Repeal ACA, Again

Just weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional, the House of Representatives voted, once again, to repeal this landmark legislation.  The repeal garnered the vote of nearly every GOP congressperson, including Minnesota’s own Cravaack, Bachmann, Kline and Paulsen.  This is not the first time a vote like this has taken place.  In fact, the GOP lead House has now voted more than thirty times to repeal this legislation.

Our GOP representatives have argued fervently against ACA, citing government overreach and wasteful spending.  Despite the fact that ACA will provide live-saving insurance to more than 30 million Americans, Cravaack, Bachmann, Kline and Paulsen continue to fight against legislation that has already been passed and has been deemed constitutional by the United States Supreme Court. Rather than spend time working to find solutions to the problems facing our country, these representatives have chosen to waste valuable time and money on a largely symbolic vote, underscoring their discontent with ACA.

July is HIV Awareness Month

This month is the inaugural National HIV Awareness month, marking a new opportunity to raise awareness about the HIV epidemic in the United States. The CDC estimates that nearly 1.2 million Americans are currently living with HIV and that approximately 50 million Americans will contract the virus each year.  What’s more, one in five people with the virus is unaware of their HIV status. 

National HIV Awareness month aims to reduce the stigma that those living with HIV or AIDS often face, as well as to strengthen efforts against the spread of the virus. There are many ways to participate in this month: getting yourself tested for HIV and other STIs, HIV education, vigils, walks, displays, conferences and more.  To learn more about how to participate, visit http://www.nationalhivawarenessmonth.org/

Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota offers rapid HIV testing throughout all its health centers.  This simple HIV test uses oral swab of a cheek and makes it easier than ever to know your HIV status and protect the sexual health of yourself and your partner. 

Moira, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Datoka

Pregnancy and Abortion Rates Drop Over Past 20 Years

A recent report by the National Center for Health Statistics shows that the number of live births per 1,000 women has dropped from 70.9 in 1990 to 68.1 in 2008.  This decrease also includes a 40% decrease in teenage births, and though communities of color continue to experience teenage pregnancy at significantly higher rates, rates among black and Hispanic communities fell significantly.  Furthermore, the report shows a shift in child bearing age, with substantially fewer women having children in their early twenties, instead waiting to have children, with a  38% increase in pregnancies among women 35-39, and a 65% increase for women 40-44.

These decreases in pregnancy are accompanied by a substantial decrease in abortion rates. In 1990, there were 27.4 abortions per 1,000 women; in 2008, 19.4. Though abortions were down among most demographics, most notably, there was a significant drop in abortions among teenagers.